High school boys soccer preview

The Eastern Region is wide open this season and by May any of the teams listed in the top 10 could come out on top.

Both Ocean Lakes and Hickory have the most experience. And two Beach District powers – Cox and First Colonial – are welcoming new coaches. Could this be the year for that the pecking order is reshuffled?

Here’s a look at The Pilot’s Top 10:

1. Ocean Lakes – An experienced and talented team, with goalkeeper Rory Mills back in the fold, the Dolphins are expected to go far this season.

2. Hickory – The Hawks have 19 upperclassmen and this could be the year they finally break through at the region tournament.

3. Cox – Jim Snodgrass is gone, but the Falcons are still a power in the Beach District tournament

4. First Colonial – Kevin Denson, who led Kempsville to four state titles, returns to the Beach sidelines after a two-year hiatus.

5. Kellam – Hector Arellano, Jordan Grumney and Rohen Gresalfi are expected to provide leadership for this young team.

6. Grassfield – The upstart program is on the rise with Ian Fleming demonstrating marksmanship James Bond would be proud of.

7. Princess Anne – Midfielder Aden Weeks is back and should provide the scoring punch necessary for the Cavaliers to fight it out in the tough Beach District.

8. Landstown – Young with a lot of potential, Landstown may be a work in progress. But if all goes according to a plan, the Eagles could become a nice finished product.

9. Western Branch – Strong up front, Western Branch should create havoc for defenders as they climb the table in the Southeastern District.

10. Kempsville – Daniel Arinello and Alex Vaughn are the players to watch on a team that is equally strong up front as it is in the back.

In the Beach District

- Kempsville junior midfield Bryce Yarbrough is back after suffering a season-ending back fracture his sophomore season.

- Tallwood could hold a United Nations summit. It has players from six different countries – the U.S., Nigeria, Hungary, Turkey, Ecuador and the Philippines – on its roster. Coach Juice Pantophlet calls Brendon Thomas “probably one of the fastest players in the Beach District.”

- Landstown welcomes back Tom Van Dyck, a first-team All-Tidewater pick last season as a junior.

- First Colonial’s new coach, Kevin Denson, led Kempsville four Group AAA state titles in 22 seasons with the Chiefs. His roster includes midfielder Alex Gylfason, who has signed with UNC Wilmington.

- Salem returns about 70 percent of its scoring, led by senior forward Stefano Churchill (six goals).

- Bayside has a trio of four-year starters in keeper Mike Henry and defenders Bobby Kownack and Greg Jocelyn.

- Ocean Lakes coach Don Hart expects seven seniors on his roster to make an impact. Among them are Devin Pierce (10 goals) and keeper Rory Mills (nine shutouts). They’re joined by forward/midfielder Tyler Brittan (nine goals, 12 assists).

- Cox graduated 10 seniors after winning the Eastern Region title last year. But Ryan Oakes and Will Martin – two players that combined for 31 goals and 29 assists – return. The Falcons have 16 upperclassmen.

- Kellam’s returnees include senior Jordan Grumney, who has signed with Wright State.

- Leading scorer Justin Pierce highlights a Green Run squad with 11 seniors.

In the Southeastern District

- King’s Fork lost seven starters to graduation and injury. But coach Mark Parsons will insert two German exhange students into the starting lineup. Parsons says one of them, midfielder Tjorben Grote, has “first team all-district potential.”

- Indian River lost star midfielder Ari Dimas, the Southeastern District Player of the Year, to graduation. Coach Keith Freeman will rely on two freshmen and three sophomores in what figures to be a rebuilding year.

- Oscar Smith surprised everyone last season when the Tigers won seven district games and finished in second place. But the Tigers lost seven players from that team and coach Brandon Spontak is picking up the pieces.

- Hickory had the district’s most prolific offense last season, scoring 55 goals last season. All-Southeastern District forwards Ryan Lipps and Jordan Griggs have returned.

- Grassfield’s Michael Eberhardt was keeper of the year in the Southeastern District. He is back, along with brother and starting center back David Eberhardt, an All-State punter in football.

- Great Bridge senior midfielder Matt Travis is the son of a familiar figure in these parts – Sonny Travis, the former Virginia Wesleyan and current Emory head coach.

- Freshman David Noel is expected to provide some extra power to Western Branch’s attack. Coach Edwin Velazquez calls Noel “a scoring machine” and expects midfielder Peyton Lambert to be a district player of the year candidate.

In the Eastern District

- A season after finishing second in the Eastern District, the Truckers will try to build on their success with a new coach. Terry Waddell replaces Larry Wylie.

- Maury lost Eastern District Player of the Year and Virginia signee Tony Tchani to graduation. But the Commodores are still considered the favorite in the district.

- Booker T. Washington coach Janita Hess has yet to win a game in three seasons with the Bookers. But after scoring no goals in 2006, the Bookers scored two in 2007 and seven last year. Maybe they can take the next step and earn their first victory. BTW’s tri-captains – midfielders Tyler Wellons and Kyrell Howell and keeper Jerrell Williams return.

- Lake Taylor senior forward/midfielder Patrick Thompson has 47 goals and 18 assists in his career and will be counted on to produce for the Titans again this season.

Rainer Sabin, 757-446-2367 or rainer.sabin@pilotonline.com