Slippery Rock Rockets
Boys
Coach (season, record): Kyle Hopkins (2nd season, 15-4-0)
2011 overall record: 15-4-0
2011 region record (place): 8-1-0 (champion)
2011 playoff results: Defeated North East 3-1 in the District 10 Class AA semifinals before losing to General McLane 1-0 in the D-10 championship.
Top players lost: Braden Sloan, Brock Sloan, Michael Stutz, Quay Barnhart, Joe Gioia, Kyle Hinchberger
Top returning players: Cole McCandless, Evan Mysliwiec, Aaron Gerckan, Luc LaChance
Assistant coaches: None
Outlook: Slippery Rock put together a terrific season under new head coach Kyle Hopkins in 2011. The Rockets advanced to the District 10 Class AA championship before being edged by red-hot General McLane. Slippery Rock lost six starters to graduation, including five all-region selections. Defender Quay Barnhart was named to the all-district team and the all-region first team, while goalkeeper Joe Gioia also made the first team. Brothers Braden and Brock Sloan were voted to the first team on offense. Also gone are Michael Stutz and second-team defender Kyle Hinchberger. The Rockets have some experienced players back to rely on. Seniors Cole McCandless, Evan Mysliwiec and Aaron Gerckan return for Slippery Rock. McCandless was voted to the first team on offense, while Mysliwiec was named to the first team on defense. Junior Luc LaChance also returns as a big-time contributor for the Rockets. Slippery Rock made its way through a brutal region last year and made a solid playoff run. The Rockets will need several underclassmen to step up in order to repeat that success.
Schedule
September
4 Commodore Perry 4
8 Deer Lakes 11 a.m.
10 Knoch 4
13 at Kennedy Catholic 4
15 East noon
17 Hickory* 4
20 at Franklin* 4
22 at Karns City noon
25 at Sharon* 4
27 Grove City* 4
October
1 Wilmington* 4
3 at Hickory* 7:30
6 at North East 11 a.m.
9 Franklin* 4
11 Sharon* 4
15 at Grove City* 6
17 at Wilmington* 4
20 at Mercer 11 a.m.
*Region 2 matches
Girls
Coach (season): Les Smith (6th season)
2011 overall record: 13-4-1
2011 region record (place): 6-2-0 (second)
2011 playoff results: Lost to Harbor Creek 4-2 in the District 10 Class AA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Danielle Wissinger, Jordan Marks, Casey Dudek, Rachael Caldwell
Top returning players: Haley Angerett, Holly Boyd, Morgan Siebka
Assistant coach: Bill Zimmerman
Outlook: Slippery Rock rolled through most teams in its region last fall but ran into eventual District 10 Class AA champion Harbor Creek in the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets might go through a rebuilding season this fall with several standouts lost to graduation. Jordan Marks (goalkeeper), Danielle Wissinger (offense) and Casey Dudek (offense) were voted to the all-region first team as seniors along with second-team defender Rachael Caldwell. The Rockets have some experience but will be young for the most part. Morgan Siebka and Holly Boyd are returning first-team selections on offense, while Haley Angerett is also back this fall. Slippery Rock has a challenging start to its season but will deal with several teams in transition in region play. If the Rockets can build chemistry with a revamped starting lineup, they could emerge as a region contender.
Schedule
August
31 Fairview (Harbor Creek tournament) 5:30
September
1 (Harbor Creek tournament)
5 Karns City 4
8 Knoch 2
15 at Sharpsville 11 a.m.
18 at Titusville* 4
20 Grove City* 4
24 at Oil City* 6:30
27 at Meadville* 4
29 Sharpsville 11 a.m.
October
2 Hickory* 4
4 Titusville* 4
8 at Grove City* 4
11 Oil City* 4
16 Meadville* 4
18 at Hickory* 7:30
20 at Wilmington noon
22 at Sharon 4
*Region 2 matches
Thursday: Strong Vincent
– Tom Reisenweber
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