Team earns spots on All-Metro team as well.
With a new coach in tow in George Vukic, the Bainbridge boys soccer team finished with a winning record and finished the season one game short of state against their arch-rival in Mercer Island.
For their efforts this season, five Spartans made the All-Metro Mountain Division team.
Zach Connor was a second-team selection while Will O’Donnell was an honorable mention.
Three Spartans also made the All-Kitsap News Group team, as voted on by the sports writers of the Bainbridge Review, the North Kitsap Herald, the Central Kitsap Reporter, the Bremerton Patriot and the Port Orchard Independent:
The starters:
Forward: Francisco Garcia, Bremerton – Garcia led the Knights in scoring this season, finding the back of the net 12 times and adding four assists.
Forward: Zach Sampson, North Kitsap – Sampson’s blazing speed at the Vikings right forward position put a considerable amount of pressure on every left defender in the Narrows League. Despite being double teamed most games, Sampson finished with a team-high nine goals and five assists for North.
Forward: Cody Clark, Olympic – In his junior season, Clark shook off last year’s health woes en route to a team-best 17 goals. Clark’s speed made him an offensive asset for the Trojans, helping lead the team back into the postseason before bowing out at districts. He also dished out six assists on the season.
Midfielder: Kyle Schoales, South Kitsap – Schoales scored a team-high eight goals and added four assists to help the Wolves finish second in the Narrows League. Schoales was steady on both sides of the field, as the Wolves only were shutout once in league play.
Midfielder: David Meherg, Olympic – A senior, Meherg helped lead Oly to the brink of the Olympic League title, finishing just a half-game back of Peninsula. Meherg had a great offensive game in the middle, scoring 11 goals with 4 assists, but was also a stalwart defender, never afraid to use his size to make a challenge.
Midfielder: Lee Pendt, Central Kitsap – Pendt was again among CK’s scoring leaders yet again this season, helping lead the team to the Narrows League tournament before a shootout ended their season a game shy of districts. Pendt will be back to help the Cougars try to make the push back into the postseason.
Midfielder: Donald Rollman, Bremerton – Rollman was the leader in assists for Bremerton, aiding on seven goals, but he also punched in six on his own.
“He plays with a lot of maturity,” coach Lyle Miller said. “He has a lot of touch on the ball.”
Rollman was something of a surprise for the Knights returning to the soccer team after playing baseball last year.
“I was glad to have him back,” Miller said. “I think he was surprised by how much he’d matured as a player.”
Defender: Alex May, South Kitsap – Regarded as the team’s best defender by coach Eric Bergeson, May helped South keep scores low. The Wolves allowed more than two goals in a match just once in the regular season and also shutout three opponents.
Defender: Derek Conway-Newton, Olympic – Conway-Newton was the glue that held Olympic’s defense together, never afraid to mark up with a potentially faster or more athletic forward. In addition, he still managed to score twice with an assist. Only a sophomore this season, Conway-Newton should continue to lead the Trojans next season.
Defender: Colin Barry, Central Kitsap – Barry was another strong presence on the field for CK, often shutting down opponents’ attacks but also turning them into opportunities for the Cougar offense. Barry, a junior like Pendt, should help CK continue to grow as the Cougs lose just four seniors.
Goalkeeper: Alex Bolt, Bainbridge – This senior was at the forefront of a resurgent Spartan soccer team, guiding the defense and making big stops when needed. He registered four shutouts on the year against the top competition in the Metro League as Bainbridge finished third in the Metro League tournament. Bolt was a All-Metro Mountain Division honorable mention.
Coach of the year: Steve Haggerty, Olympic – In the team’s first year in the Olympic League, the Trojans only ran into one problem: Peninsula.
Had it not been for Oly’s two losses to the Seahawks, the Trojans would have been undefeated in league play, and as always, the tenured Oly coach Haggerty played a key part in that success. Also the girls coach, Haggerty helped that squad to an undefeated league title. But next year could try Haggerty’s abilities even more, as the Trojans graduate nine from this season’s boys team.
Also stellar
Midfielder: Dylan Tucker-Ganges, Bainbridge – This junior, despite missing half of the season to play with his select team, was the main playmaker for the Spartans, scoring five goals and three assists on the year.
He was a All-Metro Mountain Division second-team selection.
Defender: Max Aussendorf, Bainbridge – This senior was a big part of the Spartan defense, marking some of the best players in the Metro League and keeping them from dominating the game. He also registered three assists on the season and was a All-Metro Mountain Division second team selection.
Goalkeeper: Devin Langaker, North Kitsap – The steady junior pitched three shutouts in the always competitive Narrows League. Langaker’s lanky arms and cat quick reflexes were responsible for countless deflections and saves throughout the year in the goalbox for North.
Midfielder: Kevin Anglada, Olympic – While not always the most graceful on the field, Anglada was still able to throw his size around in the midfield with the best of ‘em, scoring six goals and dishing out seven assists on the season.
Midfielder: Chase Park, Central Kitsap – Park was one of the Cougs’ four seniors and helped anchor a solid midfield that was the strength of CK’s offense. With a young core of mids returning, Park’s example was one to learn from in 2007.
Forward: Darryn Reinertson, Klahowya – The Eagles’ junior was the team’s most dominant player, scoring five goals with an assist, half of Klahowya’s overall offensive production this season.
Defender: David Skeels, King’s West – Assistant coach Phil Fernandes called Skeels “one of the greatest defensive players in King’s West history.” Skeels was a starter all four years for the Warriors.
In his final game, Skeels moved to midfield during the second overtime and minutes later booted the winning goal.
Forward: Justin Fellis, Bremerton – A four-year letterman for the Knights, Fellis was a top producer in the offense. Fellis provided non-stop energy, and helped keep the team motivated when the going got tough.
Midfielder: Bryan Everson, South Kitsap – Scored six goals and had two assists and helped the Wolves limited opponents to 14 goals in 11 league matches.
Defender: Sam Mouser, North Kitsap – Despite being one of the Vikings best defensive players, Mouser also scored two goals and finished with three assists. Mouser’s extensive knowledge and natural instincts on the field served North well in the defensive backfield.
Midfielder: Arturo Urquieta, Olympic – With seven goals and two assists as a junior, Urquieta will be one the Trojans will rely on to replace the production of seniors like Meherg on the pitch next season.
Goalkeeper: Zach Pendt, Central Kitsap – Pendt, the twin brother of Lee, was stellar in the goal for CK, allowing a second-lowest 19 goals in the Narrows League this season while recording two shutouts.
Midfielder: Pedro Cerquiera, Klahowya – The Eagle midfielder was part of Klahowya’s youthful core that should improve leaps and bounds following a winless 2007 season. Cerquiera scored two goals and had two assists this season.
Goalkeeper: Doug Hein, King’s West – Hein was one of the top goalies in the Sea-Tac League, giving up an average of two goals a game. A three-year letter winner, he tended goal the last two years and spent a good portion of this season helping train younger keepers.
Defender: Richie Danskin, Bremerton – Danskin wasn’t accustomed to defense coming into this season, but filled a vital role in the Knights’ backfield.
“The reluctant hero,” said coach Lyle Miller. “He couldn’t see himself playing defense, but he really stepped in and did the job. The kids really relied on him a lot. He saved a lot of bacon back there.”
