Andover
2007 record: 5-10-3, didn't make state tourney
Returning starters (7): Sam Percival, Sr., midfield; Kevin Moran, Sr., midfield; Josh Torres, Sr., forward; Matt Twomey, Sr., midfield/defense; Mike Birecki, Sr., goalie; Alex Golan, Sr., forward; Rob Martin, Sr., midfield/defense
Returning lettermen: Tom Busta, Sr., midfield/defense; Brendan Crawford, Sr., defense; Matt Liedes, Sr., defense; Tom McQuillan, Sr., midfield/defense; Andrew Pallotta, Jr., defense
Newcomers: Sam Dempsey, Sr., defense; Matt Gibbs, Sr., midfield; Eric Heath, Sr., defense; David Hu, Sr., midfield; Alex Dumitrescu, Sr., forward; Kaelan Crawford, Jr., midfield; Andrew Osborne, Jr, goalie; Randy Sartor, Jr., midfield; Kerrick Stevens, Jr., defense; Bryan Burkhard, Soph., forward; Panayioti Kostakis, Soph., midfield
Candidates in all grades: 90
Captains: Sam Percival, Kevin Moran, Josh Torres
Returning leaders: Alex Golan 9 goals
Returning honorees: Sam Percival, All-MVC
Assistants: Jim Saalfrank, JV; Scott Armstrong, Frosh.; Brian Cronin
Opener: Sept. 3 at Dracut, 3:30
Odds and ends: Andover didn't make the state tourney for only the second time since 1989. ... Eric Heath was an Eagle-Tribune All-Star in tennis and also placed 17th in the slalom at the state ski meet.
Coach Mike Wartman (7th year, 64-38-13): "The kids came in ready and are working to improve. We have a very balanced offensive attack, with Sam Percival leading the way."
Central Catholic
2007 record: 11-3-5, lost in Division 2 North semifinals
Returning starters (3): Tim Adamchuk, Sr., defense; Dan Caruso, Jr., midfield; Marc Crowley, Sr., defense
Returning lettermen: Will Hebert, Sr., midfield; Spencer Bradley, Sr., midfield/defense; Jack McCarthy, Sr., goalie; Mark St. Jean, Sr., defense; Trevor Woodward, Sr., midfield; Armando Bucciarelli, Jr., defense; Anthony Greco, Soph., midfield; Josh Voto, Soph., forward
Newcomers: Chris Michaud, Sr., forward; Pat O'Neil, Sr., midfield; Victor Silva, Sr., defense; Harrison Davis, Sr., defense/midfield; Liam Johnson, Jr., midfield; Andrew Butterworth, Jr., forward; Chris Wilbar, Jr., midfield/forward; Zach Bunnell, Soph., midfield; Adam Johnson, Soph., midfield; Alex Parisi, Soph., midfield; Sean Smith, Frosh., midfield; Matt Fenlon, Frosh., midfield
Candidates in all grades: 90
Captains: Tim Adamchuk, Spencer Bradley, Marc Crowley
Returning leaders: Dan Caruso 9 goals, Josh Voto 5 goals
Assistants: Shawn Chase, varsity asst.; Bob Shone, JV; Evan McGee, Frosh.
Opener: Sept. 4 at Chelmsford, 7 p.m.
Odds and ends: Last fall, Central equalled its win total from the previous two seasons. It was the Raiders' most wins in a season since 2000 and the furthest they had advanced in the tourney since the 1999 team reached the North finals.
Coach Ray Flaherty (22nd year): "We're going to be fast. We have to replace three of our four defenders and a goalie. We have to build our defense. That's been the key the last couple years. If we can get that experience and that confidence early, I think we'll do well. Dan Caruso forces teams to have to cover him."
Haverhill
2007 record: 15-4-2, lost in Division 1 North semifinals
Returning starters (6): Charlie Roche, Sr., defense; Zach Greene, Sr., defense; Alex Hussein, Sr., midfield; Ryan McLeod, Sr., midfield; Will Menter, Sr., midfield; Leo Worcester, Sr., defense
Returning lettermen: Matt DiPietro, Sr., midfield; Mike Hurtado, Sr., forward; Luke McCartney, Sr., goalie; Stallone Mujuru, Sr., forward; Wes Davis, Sr., defense; Mike Hogan, Jr., defense
Newcomers: Jared Lewis, Jr., midfield; Casey Joseph, Jr., midfield; Alex Jimenez, Soph., midfield; Tony Ramos, Jr., midfield; Isma Mugenyi, Sr., forward; Corey Pond, Sr., midfield; Matt Pickles, Jr., midfield; Patrick Reid, Sr., defense; Mike Feragiamo, Jr., goalie
Candidates in all grades: 46
Captains: Charlie Roche, Zach Greene, Ryan McLeod, Alex Hussein
Returning leaders: Alex Hussein 11 goals
Returning honorees: Alex Hussein and Charlie Roche, Eagle-Tribune All-Stars; Zach Greene and Ryan McLeod, MVC All-Stars
Assistants: Zachary Eldridge
Opener: Sept. 4 vs. Lowell, 7 p.m.
Odds and ends: The 2006 season was believed to be the first time Haverhill ever reached the North quarterfinals and last year's team went one better. Also, for the second year in a row, it's believed they set a school record for wins. Complete Eagle-Tribune records go back through the 1988 season and no team had won more or gone further in that span.
Coach John Coppola (6th year, 52-31-14): "We just want to play. That's what they want to do. They're not talking about going out and winning everything. ... We'll see what happens. These kids, they're good. They've been playing together for a long time. You just don't know. It's high school. Health is going to be a key issue."
Lawrence
2007 record: 3-12-3, did not make state tourney
Returning starters (5): Lucy Francisco, Sr., midfield; Francesco Cuesta, Jr., midfield; Edwin Gutierrez, Sr., goalie; Frances Henriquez, Soph., forward; Anthony Henriquez, Sr., defense
Returning lettermen: Jeremias Cruz, Soph., forward; Nicolas Lopez, Sr., defense; Melvin Morales, Jr., defense; Nelson Nicolsond, Sr., midfield; Jose Ossers, Soph., midfield; Osman Perez, Sr., midfield; Rolando Fernandez, Sr., midfield
Candidates in all grades: 40
Captains: Lucy Francisco
Returning leaders: Lucy Francisco 7 goals, Frances Cuesta 6 goals
Returning honorees: Lucy Francisco, Eagle-Tribune All-Star; Edwin Gutierrez, MVC All-Star
Assistants: Chris Ianello
Opener: Sept. 4 vs. Tewksbury, 4 p.m.
Odds and ends: After three straight winless seasons, Lawrence won five games in 2006 and three last fall. ... Coach Don Sheldon said captain Lucy Francisco is getting looks from schools at the Division 1 and 3 levels.
Coach Don Sheldon (3rd year, 8-23-5): "My goal is to rebuild the defense. We'd like to improve on the last couple of years and make the state tournament. These guys are a real shot in the arm as far as the program's concerned."
Methuen
2007 record: 5-12-3, didn't make state tourney
Returning starters (5): Bill Gagne, Sr., midfield; John Mosley, Sr., defense; Eric Bajor, Sr., defense; Mark Dougherty, Sr., goalie; Curtis Pereira, Jr., forward
Returning lettermen: Jeremy Fieldhouse, Sr., midfield; Nick Molinari, Sr., midfield; Ermil Mua, Sr., defense; Kevin Dorgan, Sr., defense; Tyler Harrington, Jr., forward; Colin Trainor, Jr., defense
Newcomers: Alex Bagetta, Sr., forward; Corey Michaud, Sr., midfield; Fred Corey, Jr., defense; Jake Rogers, Jr., midfield; Cooper Brown, Soph., midfield; Peter Fichero, Soph., midfield; Alex Zieweg, Soph., midfield
Candidates in all grades: 50
Captains: Eric Bajor, John Mosley
Assistants: Glen Gaccione, varsity asst.; John Shimer, JV; David LaCroix, JV
Opener: Sept. 4 vs. Billerica, 3:45 p.m.
Odds and ends: John Mosley is a top student, Claude Beaudet said, and is top 10 in the senior class. ... He and Eric Bajor will anchor the back line.
Coach Claude Beaudet (12th year, 65-109-39): "Once we start playing together a little bit, we'll get accustomed to new roles. A big key will be our keeper situation. Mark Dougherty is the key to having a succesful season."
