By Thomas Grant Jr.
The quest for a ‘five-peat” in SCISA boys’ soccer begins with Cardinal Newman as the number-one team in the preseason rankings of the South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association.
The Cardinals are coming off a 21-4 season in which it went undefeated in its league. Duncan Wilson led them, now at Clemson, who had a hat trick in the state championship match and senior goalkeeper Ben Pickren, who did not allow a goal last season in SCISA play.
Cardinal Newman opens the season Feb. 17 at West Florence.
The Cardinal Newman girls’ team placed fourth in the SCISA Class 4A poll. Last year, the Lady Cardinals fell to eventual champion Pinewood Prep in the semifinals.
The lone Northeast public school to appear in the preseason rankings were the Blythewood girls. The Lady Bengals co-shared the Region 3-5A title before losing in the third round to state runner-up J.L. Mann.
Blythewood opens the season Feb. 9 at White Knoll.
S.C. HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER COACHES ASSOCIATION PRESEASON RANKINGS
BOYS
(Class 5A)
1.Ashley Ridge, 2. Clover, 3. River Bluff, 4. J.L. Mann, 5. Chapin, 6. Carolina Forest, 7. Hillcrest, 8. Mauldin, 9. Wando, 10. Nation Ford
(Class 2A)
1.Oceanside Collegiate, 2. Gray Collegiate, 3. Bishop England, 4. Academic Magnet, 5. Andrew Jackson, 6. Greenville Tech Charter, 7. Greer Middle College, 8. Ridgeland-Hardeeville, 9. Buford, 10. Silver Bluff
GIRLS
(Class 5A)
1.J.L. Mann, 2. Wando, 3. Blythewood, 4. Nation Ford, 5. Mauldin, 6. West Ashley, 7. Dutch Fork, 8. Lexington, 9. River Bluff, 10. St. James
(Class 3A)
1.Waccamaw, 2. Powdersville, 3. Camden, 4. Travelers Rest, 5. Dreher, 6. Phillip Simmons, 7. Gilbert, 8. D.W. Daniel, 9. Chapman, 10. Beaufort
SCISA
(Class 4A)
BOYS
1.Cardinal Newman, 2. Hammond, 3. Ben Lippen, 4. Porter-Gaud, 5. Heathwood Hall
GIRLS
1.Pinewood Prep, 2. Hammond, 3. Porter-Gaud, 4. Cardinal Newman, 5. Augusta Christian
Photos by Cardinal Newman – The Cardinal Newman boys soccer team after winning the SCISA Class 4A title last May.
