Where good soccer reigns

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

October 07, 2008 Last Updated: October 07, 2008 02:50 PM High School

Route 228 boasts tough boys squads

Route 228 might as well be renamed The Soccer Belt.

Mars, Knoch and Freeport all can be found on or near that stretch of highway and all three are among the top eight WPIAL Class AA boys soccer teams.

"You can really feel the difference when two of us play each other,"Mars coach Chris Knauff said. "The atmosphere feels like the playoffs."

The results look like the playoffs as well. Knoch and Freeport have exchanged one-goal victories in their two meetings. Knoch and Mars battled to a 1-1 tie and meet for a rematch Thursday night at Mars.

Freeport defeated Mars by a goal early in the season, then dropped a 3-0 decision in which the Planets snapped a scoreless tie midway through the second half.

Three teams from each section qualify for the WPIALplayoffs.

"Our team still isn't a lock to get in,"Freeport coach Chris McGrady said. "But if we do make it, we'll certainly be battle tested."

The Yellowjackets (10-3-1 overall) are the only team to defeat Mars or Knoch this year, yet they find themselves clinging to third place in the section.

"Toughest section in all of Class AA, without a doubt,"Knauff said.

McGrady is in his 14th season at Freeport and the Yellowjackets are trying to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2000.

Sophomore forward Tahlon Kirkland leads the team with 12 goals. Ryan Scheestel has six while David Hidinger and John Bercik have scored five each.

Mars, 21-4-1 in 2007, reached the state championship game last season in Knauff's first year at the helm and return most of those players. Ryan McKenzie leads this year's team (11-1-2) with 11 goals.

The Planets also have one of the county's top goalkeepers in Joe Haefner and solid midfield play with Andy Knauff, Mike Page and Dylan McNany.

On top of that, Mars has allowed only 10 goals in 14 games.

Knoch (10-1-1) is headed to the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Doug Wood is in his third year as coach and the Knights have allowed only nine goals in 12 games played.

"We graduated Steve Frey, the best goalie in the section last year, and expected to have Cullen Hinderliter and Naru Pfeffer split time in goal this season,"Wood said. "Naru suffered a concussion a few games ago and Cullen has handled the job for us."

Hinderliter has plenty of help in front of him. Michael Hook is a four-year starter as a defender and Jordan Kennedy is a three-year starter at that position. Chris Ludwiczak is a first-year starter on defense.

"Nothing much gets through those guys,"Wood said.

Adam Sharbaugh leads Knoch with 12 goals. Travis Tasker, Kevin Wood and Quinten Tanger have four goals each.

"It's harder to defend teams with balanced scoring, and all three of our teams seem to have that," McGrady said.

Knoch, Mars and Freeport entered play this week with a combined overall record of 31 wins, five losses and four ties. They have scored 127 goals and allowed 36.

"There are so many good soccer players in this area,"Knauff said. "It was a matter of time before these teams were all going to be among the best in the same year."