High School Boys
University High School Boys' Soccer
Coach: Mr. Victor Chirica
Printable Schedule
Congratulations to our
HS Boys Soccer
on their 6-0 tournament game victory against Chuckey Doak! Our Bucs will travel to Greeneville on Thursday, May 16th, at 6:00 p.m. Keep on Kicking, Bucs!!!!!
Williams lifts UH past Doak
Published May 14, 2013
By Jeff Birchfield - Press Sports Writer
Photo - University High's Nick Fabus
breaks into the open field!
Three weeks ago, Connor Williams was on the ground writhing in pain with an injured ankle, wondering if his high school soccer career was over.
In his first match back from that injury on Tuesday night, the University High senior forward took a big step forward. His goal in the fourth minute spurred the Junior Bucs to a 6-0 victory over Chuckey-Doak in the Region 1-A/AA semifinals at Civitan Park.
"I was quite out of shape where I hadn't played in three weeks, but it was good to come back and get that first goal," said Williams after heading in a cross by Kevin Mast. "I'm probably only about 50 percent right now and to be able to finish that, it seemed like it set the momentum for us.
"It was probably one of my better goals of the season. I was just happy to be back on the field again."
With the victory, University High (13-2) advanced to Thursday's Region 1-A/AA championship against Greeneville. The Junior Bucs also advanced to Saturday's sectional round with a state tournament berth on the line.
Both head coach Victor Chirica and assistant coach Tony Snapp praised their team's effort.
"The midfield controlled the ball and we had a lot of shots," Snapp said. "We didn't finish a lot early, but Connor coming back today and getting that goal less than five minutes in was a big asset to the guys and his confidence. We had some good looks at the goal and had a good effort."
Overall, the Junior Bucs outshot Chuckey-Doak 26-4, with a 15-2 advantage in the first half. Westley Ongtengco scored UH's second goal in the 22nd minute off a penalty kick.
Five minutes into the second half, Mast made it 3-0 with a strike from around 12 yards out off an assist from Federico Aghito. In the 50th minute, Mast added his second assist of the match, this time to freshman Tani Houston for a 4-0 lead.
Mast, a senior midfielder, said his passing skills are no accident, and that he gets more joy from seeing his teammates score goals than his goals.
"The quick touches on the ball, I've always wanted to do that and I practice it at home," Mast said. "It helps me get it quicker to the center for the best shots.
"One of my favorite parts of playing with these guys, I feel as gratified if I score or if they score, even if I'm not the one passing the ball."
It was an all-around effort, which led to University High's victory. The defense gave up just four shots, three of them on free kicks by the Black Knights' Birkier Viddison. Otherwise, the Junior Bucs did a bang-up job marking Viddisson, who had set a Chuckey-Doak school record with 26 goals this season.
"Coming into the game, No. 7 (Viddison) was their offensive threat and we wanted to stop him," Snapp said. "The defense stood pretty tall back there and he didn't have a shot on goal all game.
"He got frustrated halfway through the second half because he couldn't do anything and that's what we wanted. It worked out to our favor."
Back on the offensive end, Aghito had a near-miss in the 61st minute when his left-footed attempt bounced off the crossbar. Nick Fabus, who spent a large portion of the match marking Viddison, then scored off a tap from Collin Newberry in the 70th minute.
There was another reward for an outstanding defensive effort as Logan Webb scored the last UH goal off a cross by Aghito.
Chuckey-Doak finished its season 7-9-1, meaning the final contest for a pair of fourth-year seniors Giovanni Jimenez and Wes Carroll, as well as fellow senior Steven Berry.
"We've had sickness on the team, tons of injuries. We went from 23 players down to 14," C-D head coach Anna Ricker said. "So for us to advance to this point is amazing, because we've gone through so much adversity this season. Today, we just never found that breakthrough moment."
University High will be looking for that moment against Greeneville, anxious to avenge a 9-0 loss from nearly three weeks ago.
"We're ready and the guys are ready," Snapp said. "We've got Connor back and we've got our keeper (Ben Page) back. That's a big asset to have our starting keeper back as far as confidence. We're going to mix it up and try some different things. I think it will be a little different situation than last time."
The University School Boy's Soccer team is having a season for the ages. We lead the state in scoring per game with a phenomenal 7 goals. We're ranked 10th in the state for A/AA classification. We have scored 84 goals! And, we are ranked #83 in the entire nation!
According to coacht.com web site, our team is currently:
* Ranked #15 in the state of Tennessee in A/AA classification poll (sterngth+seccess)
* University school is ranked 10th in the state for A/AA classification for best win lost record
* They ranked in the top 25 in scoring defenses with only giving up 0.9 goals per game (that's for all classifications)
* Have out scored their opponents 84-11 to date (this not counting preseason games)
* Have posted 5 shuts out to date
* Ranked 1# in scoring production with a 7.0 goals scored per game average (best in the state for all classifications)
According the maxpreps.com web site:
University School Ranks 21st in the state and have earned a ranking of 83rd in the nation for spring boys soccer programs as of 4/23/13.
Give it up for our boys!
The following article was printed in the
Johnson City News and Neighbor
(727th Edition 05.11.13-05.17.13)
Johnson City Press Article
UH blanks Elizabethton
Updated April 23, 2013 9:21 PM
By
Jeff Birchfield
-
Press Sports Writer
UH-Elizabethton game
ELIZABETHTON -- University High scored four goals on its own and benefited from a pair of own goals from Elizabethton, romping to a 6-0 boys’ soccer victory on Tuesday night at Brown-Childress Stadium.
The Junior Bucs improved to 8-1 overall and 6-0 in the Region 1 A-AA standings. The win sets up a showdown next Tuesday at Greeneville, also undefeated in the region.
A pair of early goals set the tone for UH.
Kevin Mast crossed a corner kick and Noah Jones put in a header in the fourth minute.
Nine minutes later, Junior Bucs were the receipent of the Cyclones’ first gift when the ball bounced off the chest of an Elizabethton defender and into the goal.
As head coach Victor Chirica was off to the side attending to Connor Williams who suffered an ankle injury, assistant coach Tony Snapp talked about the importance of those early goals.
“We talked before the game about having high pressure on the top,” Snapp said. “We got that head ball off the corner kick to get started with and then had the deflection on the second one. That kind of set the pace.”
Elizabethton fell to 6-5-1 overall and 3-2-1 in the district with the loss. Cyclones head coach Bill McClay could only remember one other high school match with two own goals, and that was a girls’ contest years ago.
“We knew we were going into a tough match, and you can’t make mistakes against a team with that kind of skill,” McClay said. “We made some mistakes early, but we survived the first half down 2-0. We come out in the second half and our intensity stepped up. Then, we give up another own goal when the ball was just going to go harmlessly to the keeper. I was disappointed with the final score.”
With an emphasis of controlling the midfield, the Junior Bucs controlled action on both ends of the field. They had a 15-3 advantage in shot attempts, including 11-1 on shots on goal.
“We wanted to be first to the ball,” Snapp said. “I told the guys at the beginning of the game if we won the ball in the midfield, we would win the game. They played up tempo all game and made some really good passes.”
They included Mast’s assist on the first goal from the left corner. The senior put the ball exactly where the coaches told him to, leading Jones to finish it on the back post.
“It just felt right. The touch on the ball was just perfect,” Mast said. “Then Noah’s header was perfectly paced. Those early goals gave us a lot of momentum.”
Pedro Teixeira had Elizabethton’s lone shot attempt in the first half and Isaac Fife had the team’s only shot on goal early in the second half.
Dominic Avento gave University High extra breathing room in the 63rd minute. Wesley Ongtengco assisted as Avento let loose a quick strike from the right side of the penalty box.
“After the start of the second half, that was big to get us up 3-0,” Snapp said. “That takes a little breath away from the other team because a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous margin in soccer.”
There was no stopping the Junior Bucs at that point. They scored on a second own goal in the 71st minute when the ball bounced off the head of an Elizabethton defender.
Just three minutes later, Tani Houston took the ball off the foot of another Cyclone defender for an unassisted goal. Lowell Williams blasted a free kick in the 77th minute for the final goal of the match.
It wasn’t all about the offense, as the UH defense was equally successful in marking Teixeira.
“We talked about that before the game how we didn’t want to let him turn with the ball, especially from 20 (yards) in,” Snapp said. “The guys played him pretty tight and didn’t give him any free looks at the goal.”
In addition to UH’s showdown with Greeneville, Elizabethton has a key contest next Tuesday. The Cyclones play host to Grainger with likely a No. 3 seed in the upcoming region tournament on the line.
© 2013 Johnson City Press - All Rights Reserved
Published April 22, 2013
By
Douglas Fritz
-
Press Sports Writer
University High’s soccer team is 7-1 on the season after Thursday’s 10-1 whipping of Cumberland Gap.
The Junior Bucs have a key Three Rivers/Blue Ridge Conference contest today at Elizabethton.
On Thursday, UH will have the opportunity to play at ETSU’s stadium. The Junior Bucs will play host to Sullivan Central at 6 p.m.
Another big league game awaits on April 30 as the Junior Bucs travel to face Greeneville with the regular season title likely on the line.
Updated March 29, 2013 7:08 PM
By
Douglas Fritz
-
Press Sports Writer
Victor Chirica has been a soccer coach who always shoots straight about the abilities of his team.
So when he gave this year’s team a stamp of approval, it’s worth taking notice.
“This is the year when they have the best chance to get to the state tournament,” said Chirica. “They have the experience, the technique and the tactical form. They have everything.
“They just need to believe in themselves. They can do it. They just need to come to practice and make sure they are fit.”
The Junior Bucs are expected to battle Greeneville and Elizabethton for the Class A-AA Three Rivers/Blue Ridge Conference title.
As for Class AAA teams, Daniel Boone appears to be on the upswing while David Crockett is rebuilding.
Here’s a look at UH, Elizabethton, Boone and Crockett’s teams for 2013:
University High
The Junior Bucs are seasoned in the back with senior defender Nick Fabus and Benjamin Page, who is the team’s goalkeeper. Junior Jonathan Burke is another key defender.
In the midfield, Chirica said he will rely on seniors Connor Williams and Kevin Mast. Also helping stabilize the middle is junior Noah Jones.
Up front, Chirica should get plenty of offense from Lowell Williams, Dominic Avento and Westley Ongtengco. All of those players are juniors.
UH graduated just one player, and the Junior Bucs rolled through the preseason without a loss. After a forfeit victory, UH opened the regular season with a 13-1 pounding of David Crockett.
“Our whole team is back, plus we’ve got a new guy who just came on the team and he’s pretty good,” said Chirica, who will be assisted again this season by former David Crockett coach Tony Snapp. “It’s basically the same team, so we do have a lot of experience. They have grown up together for about three years now.”
