Cherry Hill East boys soccer 2017 season preview
Last season: Cherry Hill East finished the 2016 season with a record of 4–11–2. The Cougars qualified for the South Jersey Group IV tournament, but did not participate.
Returning players: Leading the attack will be junior forward Mark Baseshore and senior forward Sam Biotti. Sophomore midfielder Eddie Grant will also contribute on offense. Also returning at midfield are seniors Tim Welsch, Rob Rogowski and Matt Blaker. Senior Mike Kenny will help anchor the defense.
New players to watch: A number of players will step into new roles this season. Sophomore Alex Turkienicz and junior Harry Hampton could receive playing time at midfield. Sophomore Ian Sachs and junior Nick Feldman will see playing time at goalkeeper. Newcomers to the defense include sophomore Kevin Lockbihler and junior Remus Creanga Jr.
Key games: Head coach Mike Melograna believes all of the games in the tough Olympic Conference American Division are big for the team. Cherry Hill East will also play two games on the new turf field this year. Those games are Sept. 16 against Camden Catholic at 3:30 p.m. and Oct. 7 against Cherry Hill West at noon.
Season outlook: Melograna loves the chemistry of this year’s teams and feels the players have an understanding of presenting their own families and the Cherry Hill community. The Cougars expect to be competitive this season and with some hard work, hope to improve their record from last year.
