Kennedy Catholic Golden Eagles
Boys
Coach (season, record): Bill Dodd (9th season, 71-67-8)
2011 overall record: 12-6-0
2011 region record (place): 6-2-0 (second)
2011 playoff results: Lost to Mercyhurst Prep 8-2 in the District 10 Class A semifinals.
Top players lost: Mario Picciotto, Jon Hudson, Jake Friedrich, Pat Thomas, Nico Alba
Top returning players: Dominik Pfleger, Erik Little, Mike Thomas, Jimmie D’Onofrio, Stevens Edge, Gerald Zachar, Jaylyn Greene
Assistant coaches: Dean Toth, Mark Toth
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic put together another solid season in 2011. The Golden Eagles, however, ran into powerhouse Mercyhurst Prep in the District 10 playoffs. Kennedy will need to reload quickly to return to the postseason this fall. The Golden Eagles graduated Mario Picciotto, Jon Hudson, Jake Friedrich, Pat Thomas and Nico Alba. Thomas (offense) and Friedrich (offense) were all-region first-team selections as seniors, while Picciotto (goalkeeper), Alba (offense) and Hudson (defense) were voted to the second team. All five players made an impact last season and will be tough to replace. Kennedy returns Dominik Pfleger, Erik Little, Mike Thomas, Jimmie D’Onofrio, Stevens Edge, Gerald Zachar and Jaylyn Greene this fall. Greene is back at forward after scoring five goals and dishing out nine assists last year, while D’Onofrio, Edge and Zachar are back at midfield. D’Onofrio was voted to the all-region first team after collecting 13 goals and eight assists, while Edge and Zachar were second-team selections. Little and Pfleger were voted to the first team on defense and lead an experienced group in the back, including Thomas. The Golden Eagles need to fill some holes, mainly at keeper. Junior Gavin Cianci could step in and start right away, while Drew Gabigel, Anthony Panariello, Josh Repas, Nolan Cianci and Christian Riggle could be impact players. Class A was bolstered by the addition of North East and Commodore Perry, making playoff spots harder to come by. If the Golden Eagles can get some contributions from new players, they will be right in the thick of the Region 1 race.
Schedule
September
4 at Wilmington 7:30
6 Grove City 4
11 at Hickory 7:30
13 Slippery Rock 4
17 at Mercer* 7:30
19 at Sharpsville* 4
20 Sharon 4
25 Commodore Perry* 4
27 at Conneaut* 5
October
1 West Middlesex* 4
3 Mercer* 4
9 Sharpsville* 4
11 at Commodore Perry* 4
15 Conneaut* 4
17 at West Middlesex* 4
22 Fairview 4
*Region 1 matches
Girls
Coach (season, record): Jef Zolnier (4th season, 18-31-4)
2011 overall record: 8-7-2
2011 region record (place): 1-4-1 (third)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 Class A playoffs.
Top players lost: Lauren Vetica, Lizz Morsillo, Rachel Burns
Top returning players: Monica Riggle, Anna Benson, Hennessy Zolnier, Anna Bonomo, Alyson Derrick, Shelby McElhinney
Assistant coaches: Tressa Scahill, Wendy Godfrey
Outlook: Kennedy Catholic made strides last season but couldn’t get enough clutch wins to get into the District 10 Class A championship over Wilmington. There may be more playoff spots this season with an expanded field and the Golden Eagles will need to replace some key players to get into the postseason. Lauren Vetica and Lizz Morsillo graduated and Rachel Burns will be out this year after injuring her knee in the basketball playoffs last winter. Vetica was an all-region first-team defender, while Burns was a first-team pick on offense. Bruns scored nine goals and dished out four assists as a junior. Kennedy has a strong group back led by first-team selections Anna Benson (offense), Monica Riggle (offense), Hennessy Zolnier (offense) and Anna Bonomo (defense). Riggle and Tawney Godfrey will be counted on at striker, while Benson and Zolnier will anchor the midfield. Riggle had seven goals and seven assists last year and Godfrey had six goals. Benson contributed with three goals last season. Also back are second-team selections Shelby McElhinney (goalkeeper) and Alyson Derrick (defense). McElhinney collected 106 saves last fall and allowed only 33 goals in 1,128 minutes. Victoria Volkay could also be an impact player on defense, while juniors Gracie Izenas and Katie Trenga could contribute right away this year. Kennedy has a competitive team back this year and could be in contention for a playoff spot. The Golden Eagles will need to replace its lost offensive weapons to compete for the region title.
Schedule
September
5 at Perry 4
8 Pymatuning Valley noon
10 Bristol (Ohio) 5
13 at Oil City 4
18 at Mercer* 6
20 at Wilmington* 6
24 Sharon* 4
26 at Sharpsville* 4
29 at North East 11 a.m.
October
2 West Middlesex* 4
4 Mercer* 4
8 Wilmington* 4
10 at Sharon* 4
13 Ellwood City 1
16 Sharpsville* 4
18 at West Middlesex* 4
20 Perry 1
22 Redbank Valley 4:30
*Region 1 matches
Saturday: Maplewood
– Tom Reisenweber
