AREA PREP SOCCER TO KICK OFF NEXT WEEK

There are only three high school boys soccer teams in the immediate area, but what that group lacks in quantity, it certainly make up for in quality.

Notre Dame has posted a 75-19-11 record over the past four seasons and is a defending Class 1A-3A district champion while Jackson won its second straight 4A district title last year.

And Cape Girardeau Central, despite posting back-to-back losing records, was the area's power during the first several years of boys soccer in Southeast Missouri.

All three squads have high hopes entering the 1999 season that begins next week. Following is a look at the teams.

Cape Central

The Tigers have struggled over the past two seasons but coach Tom Doyle is confident of a turnaround this year.

"I think we're looking pretty good. We're going to be quick and small," said Doyle, whose squad went 9-14-2 in 1998. "We've had two losing seasons in a row, but I think we'll turn things around a little bit. I think we'll have a winning season and surprise some people."

A rugged schedule will make the Tigers earn a good record, according to Doyle.

"We'll have our hands full, not only outside the area but around here," he said. "Our area has really gotten good. We had two district champions last year (Notre Dame and Jackson) and in previous years we'd be lucky to have one."

Central returns 11 lettermen, many of whom started a year ago.

"They've got a little more experience and hopefully that will pay off for us," Doyle said.

Eight seniors, including four returning lettermen, will lend experience to the Tigers.

Seniors back from last year's varsity are defenders Justin Shelby, Mike Pickett, Andrew Christensen and Eric Bennett. Up from the JV are forward Matt Kennard and defenders Matt Gooden and Mick Metzger. The final senior is Alexis Rydell, an exchange student from Sweden who should help out quite a bit, said Doyle.

The two goalkeepers who shared playing time last season return in junior Matt Brandt and sophomore Trevor Blattner. Doyle said that duo will likely split the goalie duties again this year.

Other juniors back from last season's varsity are forward Brett McNabb, one of the Tigers' leading scorers a year ago, and forward Chris Cole. A junior up from the JV is defender Matt Davis.

Central returns three sophomores from last season's varsity in forward Jon Mark Thompson, another of last year's leading scorers, Cody Hill and Arthur Pilsner. Sophomore Eric Daume is up from the JV.

Central opens the season Tuesday at Jackson.

Notre Dame

Despite graduating quite a few key players off last year's 18-5-4 squad, coach Brad Wittenborn is hopeful of another strong season.

"We've been fortunate to have had some good players the last few years, but we lost some good players (from last season)," said Wittenborn. "We've had a few more injuries than we're used to, but we'll be okay when we get everybody healthy."

Notre Dame has not only been an area power but the Bulldogs have also annually contended for a district title. Wittenborn thinks that will be the case again this year.

"I'm not saying we're going to win the district again, but I think we'll definitely be a factor," he said.

Among the several key players lost to graduation from last year were leading scorer Zach Miller and goalie Colin Vandergraf.

But the Bulldogs return plenty of talent, including six players who saw at least some starting time, led by senior midfielder Oliver Sanders.

"I think he's as good a player as we've had in this area in a long time," said Wittenborn of Sanders. "He's big and strong, with great skills and a tremendous feel for the game."

Other returning regulars, all seniors, are sweeper Wes Steele; defenders Tommy Wencewicz, who played up front last year, and Bryan Glosemeyer; and forwards Chris Dirnberger and Adam Obermiller, two players who Wittenborn will look to for considerable scoring.

Senior midfielder Cory Elfrink and junior defender Nick Kapfer also played a lot last year while senior Tim Robert saw some varsity action.

Wittenborn will also be looking for contributions from four sophomores who were key JV players last year: forward Timmy Wencewicz and midfielders Scott Wittenborn, Shane Kistner and Matt Pobst.

Goalie Michael Gosche, who started a few games last year, returns but will miss the early part of the schedule with a stress fracture. Until Gosche heals, sophomores Adam Ralls and Paul Unterreiner off the JV should handle the duties.

Notre Dame plays its first game Thursday, facing Hillsboro in its annual three-day, eight-team tournament tha t also includes Central and Jackson.

Jackson

It would be hard to imagine a team hurt more by graduation than Jackson, which went a best-ever 20-5-2 last year and followed up the school's first district title from 1997 with another crown.

"I think about 82 of our goals graduated from last year," said coach Bonnie Knowlan with a laugh. "That's like taking five or six kids out."

Gone from last season are all-stater Nathan Windeknecht, who shattered his own school scoring record from his junior season by pouring in 48 goals as a senior. Spencer Knowlan, who also graduated, was next with 22 goals.

"It will be a challenge to see who can score this year," Bonnie Knowlan said. "But I think we'll be okay, we're just going to be young.

"It's a good working group. I think we can have another good year. The whole key will be how they pull together as a team. So far, I think they're going to be all right."

Jackson, which has only five seniors, returns five starters in senior midfielder Tyler Stearns; senior stopper Matt Diebold; junior forward Raju Dirnberger, the leading returning scorer with 14 goals; junior midfielder Greg Schwab; and sophomore defender Joey Weber.

The other seniors, who all saw some varsity action a year ago, are goalie Bryan Sander, forward Jimmy Sievers and defender Dustin Adams.

Another returning squad member is junior Todd Shelton while Knowlan will look for contributions from a host of others, many of them off the JV. Juniors are Justin Vines, Noah Reese, Jon Coleman, Justin Green and Justin Jones while sophomores are Matt Gordon, Patrick Kohm and Michael Schuette.

Jackson begins the season Tuesday by hosting Cape Central.