By Alex Frazier
Eagles ready to soar – Anybody but Bob Davis would probably have quit coaching at Norristown long ago.
But Davis knew what he was getting into.
Well sort of.
He had retired from the West Norriton Parks and Recreation Department when his friend, who was the principal at Norristown, asked him if he would take over the soccer program because it was in sore need of discipline.
Davis agreed, thinking it would be a one-year commitment.
Six years and a whole lot of losses later he’s still at it. But the losing seasons and the basement finishes haven’t deterred him.
In fact, he’s taken some pride in the fact that he took an unruly program and converted it into a respected one, one that has won two MacFarland Awards for sportsmanship.
Over the years he’s had to deal with adversity. Unlike in wrestling where the best wrestlers from all three middle schools compete on the same team, in soccer there are three separate teams.
“We have maybe three or four players at each middle school, and they never get a chance to play together,” explained Davis.
Over the year’s he has also had to deal with low numbers, though this year has been exceptional with 50 players on both the varsity and jayvee.
Most good teams have excellent feeder programs. The Jeffersonville Soccer Club feeds Norristown. But it is more interested in wins than improving the level of competition.
“They stay in the lower levels of the Inter-County Soccer League, which doesn’t do us a whole lot of good,” said Davis.
Finally, if Davis had all the players that could be playing for Norristown on his team, the Eagles could be one of the best teams in District One. Unfortunately, a lot of potential players end up at Kennedy Kenrick, Lansdale Catholic, Archbishop Carroll or LaSalle.
“We have a hard time retaining some of the better athletes and students,” he said.
But this year he thinks he’s finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
“We’re young but we have more talent this year than we’ve ever had,” said Davis. “We’re getting better every year. Maybe next year will be the year we can challenge.”
Three players in particular will lead the Eagles this year. Senior J.J. Natale was a second team all-American Conference selection last year. He and classmate Mohammad Ali, a native of Egypt, play together in the center midfield. Natale is being recruited by D-II schools as well as Temple, and Ali is going to Immaculata next year.
Second year junior goalkeeper Brandon Parker, who is also an accomplished wrestler, is showing a lot of improvement.
“He’s a little bit technically challenged, but as far as being courageous and athletic, he’s very, very good and getting better,” said Davis. “He keeps everybody on their toes and he’s a lot of fun to be around.”
The Eagles have won their first two games over Ridley (3-2) and Glen Mills (3-0), admittedly not the soccer powerhouses of District One, but wins nonetheless. Monday Norristown takes on Pottstown, another potential win before starting the league season against Upper Moreland Tuesday.
For several years in the Continental Conference, the Eagles were regularly thrashed, but just before moving to the American last year, they began to give some teams competition.
“By the time we left, we managed to scare all of them,” said Davis. “None of them wanted to play us because none of them wanted to lose to Norristown. We’ve gone from losing to (C.B. East’s) Mike Gorni 7-0 to losing to Mike Gorni 2-1 and 3-0 and making them sweat a little.”
The year after Council Rock North won the state title, the Eagles held a 2-1 lead with two minutes to go in the game. When the realization hit home, the players froze and went into a defensive shell, allowing Rock to score three goals and win the game.
Last year they moved into the American Conference where they finished dead last at 1-12, even though they played a lot of close games, losing four in overtime.
This year Davis thinks will be different.
“This is probably the best team I’ve had since I’ve been there, talent-wise,” he said. “That doesn’t necessarily translate to anything.”
Davis realizes he isn’t going to knock off the likes of Wissahickon and Upper Dublin quite yet, but he does think he will be in the mix for a third or fourth place finish.
“I’d be disappointed if we didn’t split with all (the rest of the) teams,” he said. “If these younger kids are willing to step up and play, I don’t what to expect.”
Around the league – The first week of the 2009 season produced some interesting results.
National Conference
Council Rock South cruised by Radnor 3-0 on goals by Scott Dion, Sean Ebert and Tim James. Abington blew out neighborhood rival Cheltenham 4-0. Pennsbury used Kyle McDonald’s second-half goal to edge Strath Haven 3-2. The Falcons followed that up by blanking C.B West 3-0 and Holy Ghost 2-0 (Eddie Adams and Kyle McDonald).
Council Rock North, after eking out an overtime win against Wissahickon, knocked off Inter-Ac powerhouse Germantown Academy, 2-1 and followed that up with another overtime victory (2-1) over Continental Conference favorite Pennridge.
Neshaminy defeated Wissahickon 4-1, and Abington used a couple of head-ball goals by Ryan Dorick to defeat Upper Dublin.
Continental Conference
A team decimated by graduation, Central Bucks East, nevertheless, hung in tough against defending state champion Downingtown West, losing 1-0.
Pennridge, which is favored to win the conference, struggled against Lower Merion losing 3-1, after defeating Spring-Ford in the season opener, 2-0.
Central Bucks South cruised past Christopher Dock 3-0 with goals from Christian Roserio, Zach Snavely and Jeff Reinhart.
American Conference
Pennridge wasn’t the only SOL team to feel the wrath of Lower Merion. The Aces blew past defending conference champ Upper Dublin 4-0.
Norristown’s Donald Naseef scored twice and Mamadou Bradley added another tally to lift the Eagles over Ridley 3-2. Keeper Brandon Parker stopped 11 shots to preserve the win. The Eagles followed that with a 3-0 win over Glen Mills.
Plymouth Whitemarsh whitewashed Chichester 5-1.
In inter-league play, Upper Moreland blanked Harry S Truman on goals from Tim DeCarolis, Tommy Hayes and Daramay Manvekah.
SOL Top 5
1. Pennsbury
2. Council Rock North
3. Abington
4. Pennridge
5. Neshaminy
Southeastern Pennsylvania Soccer Coaches Association Poll
Preseason.
School…2008 record
1. Pennsbury. . . 14-5-1
2. Downingtown West. . . 26-1-0
3. Lower Merion. . . 18-3-1
4. Abington. . . 14-5-1
5. North Catholic. . . 16-2-3
6. La Salle. . . 11-8-0
7. Council Rock North. . . 13-6-2
8. Father Judge. . . 15-3-1
9. Central Bucks East. . . 19-5-1
10. Christopher Dock. . . 17-4-3
11. Pottsgrove. . . 19-4-0
12. St. Joseph's Prep. . . 13-5-0
13. Strath Haven. . . 15-3-2
14. Upper Darby. . . 14-3-3
15. Neshaminy. . . 16-7-2
16. Germantown Academy. . . 13-5-1
17. Holy Ghost Prep. . . 16-3-2
18. Archbishop Wood. . . 19-2-1
19. West Chester Henderson. . . 13-5-0
20. Haverford School. . . 12-1-2
Teams to Watch: Archbishop Ryan, Council Rock South, Germantown Friends, Malvern Prep, North Penn, Pennridge, Unionville, Washington, West Chester Rustin.
NSCAA Region III National Rankings
Sept. 8
1. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
2. Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) 0 - 1 - 0
3. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
4. Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.) 1 - 0 - 1
5. The Pingry School (Martinsville, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
6. Downingtown West (Downingtown, Pa.) 1 - 0 - 0
7. Ramapo (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
8. Manheim Township (Lancaster, Pa.) 1 - 0 - 0
9. Scotch Plains (Scotch Plains, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
10. North Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) 0 - 0 - 0
11. Milburn (N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
12. Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.) 0 - 0 - 0
13. Columbia (Maplewood, N.J.) 0 - 0 - 0
14. Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.) 1 - 0 - 0
15. Red Land Senior (Lewisberry, Pa.) 1 - 0 - 0
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