Kennett boy’s soccer kicks it up a notch
By Dave Conard Sports Editor, KennettTimes.com
Kennett captain Connor Dalphon heads a ball in the Steel City tournament
KENNETT SQUARE–Heading into his third season at the helm of the Blue Demons, head coach Dean Temple know what to expect when the Ches-Mont season gets underway later this week.
“We play in a brutally tough league in which there are no days off,” said Temple, who will have five returning starters from last season. We have some experience but overall playing time wise we are very young, we have 11 seniors and they will have to step it up right away.”
Kennett, which finished 12-7 and reached the second round of the PIAA District playoffs, started the season this week at the Coatesville Steel City annual soccer tip off tournament against some pretty heft competition.
On Friday afternoon the Blue Demons battled back from an early 1-0 deficit to 2010 Pac-10 champion Spring-Ford, controlling play for about twenty minutes in the second half before eventually falling to the Rams by a count of 2-0.
The Blue Demons battle the Rams in the opening round of the Steel City annual tourney.
“We look forward to playing in a tournament like this,” added Temple. “Playing teams of this quality may be the determining factor when it comes down to being on the bubble when district seedings are selected. We want to play strong teams that push us to playing our best game.”
Senior midfielders Connor Dalphon and Rodrigo Guerrero, who will have high expectations placed on them all season, led the offensive attack against the Rams.
Dalphon, recording three shots in the second half, while Guerrero forced Spring-Ford net minder Pat Schwartz to make a great save from point blank range with nine minutes to play with the game still at 1-0, then rapped a shot off the cross bar at the 7:22 mark.
“We have a lot of expectations of ourselves,” said Dalphon. “We have some very big challenges always in our league, the Unionville and Rustin games are always huge games for us.”
“ Playing in a tournament like this really gives us a chance to tune up our game right away, we want to start the season strong and really feel like we have a chance to surprise some people and even win the Ches-Mont this year.”
In the consolation game on Saturday the Blue Demons put down the host Red Raiders by a count of 2-1 with Juan Arroyo taking a great pass from Dalphon and promptly putting past Coatesville net minder Joey Sopko with 24:25 remaining in the first half, posting Kennett to a 1-0 lead.
With 11:30 left in the opening frame, Christian Bedolla scored the second Kennett goal of the game with sophomore middie Griffin Dight recording an assist.
Kennett midfielder Gustavo Mireles goes up for a kick against Spring-Ford.
Coatesville’s sniper Zach Grim had an excellent scoring opportunity as time was dwindling prior to the intermission when he ripped a shot destined for the corner of the net before Alex Gairrocco swiped it aside.
The Red Raiders (0-2) continued to pressure the net on the ensuing corner kick, but the Blue Demons were able to thwart any damage on the scoreboard.
Coatesville, who led Springfield (Delco) for most of the opening round game on Friday before falling short by a tally of 2-1, got on the board late in the second half on a highlight reel goal by Steven McFarland, cutting the lead to 2-1.
“It all comes down to communication and repetition,” added Dalphon. “Every player has to talk to each other and we have to practice as hard as we play in game situations, we all need to do the work to be successful.
The Blue Demons (2-1-0) had no problem communicating as they took on class AAA Central league monster Marple Newtown on Tuesday afternoon, as Kennett got a goal from Conner Dalphon, his first of the season, and a sensational goal tending effort from Alex Giarrocco, who recorded his first shut out of the season.
Kennett senior midfielder Connor Dalphon battles for the ball in the Steel City tournament.
“We have dropped games against teams like Glenn Mills and Chichester and replaced them on the schedule with battles with Strath Haven and Marple Newtown,” said Temple.
“I am looking for big things out of Connor (Dalphon), Christian (Bedolla) and Rodrigo (Guerrero) and am excited about the season.”
