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Middle school goes undefeated
By John Denny
Staff Reporter
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Coastal Point • ERNIE TURPIN
An Indian avoids the Phifer defense.
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A 5-0 win over Phifer Middle School concluded the Selbyville Middle School soccer season, further improving the Indians astounding eight-year record of 88-4-2. The undefeated Indians posted an 11-0-1 record this season, which included eight shut-outs.
Phifer tied Selbyville in 2003 but improved their effort to win in 2004. So the Indians were eager to notch a win and finish out strong. Selbyville Head Coach Neal Barch noted that coaching the soccer team is relatively easy because his players are involved with the sport year-round and the skills they have developed have put them in a position to dominate the game.
“This was by far our best passing game of the season,” said Barch. “Four of our five goals were unassisted, and chances are if we didn’t pass as well as we did then maybe we would’ve won 1-0. Phifer had strong players on defense that can stop 1-on-1 attempts so passing was essential to the win.”
The Indians utilized the open areas, anticipated passes and converted on opportunities to rack up their five goals.
Nick Izzo scored two goals while Caleb Buchler, Matt Kleinstuber and Victor Cuencia each chipped in with goals of their own. Izzo headed in their fourth goal on a Luis Castro corner kick.
But next year, the Indians will have to replace a number of their veteran players, including Castro, due to graduation.
Castro was their leading scorer (12 goals) and assist man (eight assists) and losing him will create a void. But Barch has a number of talented seventh graders, and generally players mature and cycle into the rotation.
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Coastal Point • ERNIE TURPIN
A Selbyville player head-butts the ball towards the goal.
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“Luis is the kind of guy you want on top,” said Barch of Castro, “but we have a lot of good seventh graders who will gladly step in. They get a little jump after their seventh-grade summer — get a little taller — so that will help.”
In addition to Castro, Barch also stands to lose Jake Buchler (four goals and three assists), Cody Bowden (five goals and three assists) and Kleinstuber (four goals).
Barch’s reliable eighth graders are leaving the small pond for the big one but their former head coach has all the confidence in them to compete at the highest level.
“A couple of them have a good chance to make varsity next year,” said Barch, “and by their junior year, others will make contributions as well.”
Previously, Cameron Travalini and Chris Conover earned spots on Indian River’s varsity soccer team and have played integral parts in their success. Travalini plays the most regularly as one of the Indians midfielders, but Conover has filled in the later stages of games giving the starters a rest.
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