Biglerville boys' soccer team looks to preserve long Division III win streak
Oct. 2, 2012.
That's the last time the Biglerville boys' soccer team lost a YAIAA Division III match. The Canners were defeated by York Catholic on that day, 2-1.
Since then, they've run off 27 straight division wins, including running the table in 2013 and 2014. Not surprisingly, they expect to win the division for a third straight time.
"We know that every team in our division gets up to play us," Biglerville head coach Jebb Nelson said. "Even in the 5 Angels Tournament. They all want to beat us. Bermudian Springs is probably our biggest challenge and Delone Catholic is going to be a capable team.
"But we feel that win should win our league again. We think we have a chance to compete in districts, too."
The Canners won the 2013 District 3 Class A tournament and were runner-up in 2012, before bumping up to Class AA in 2014. Last season, they lost their first-round district match to Pequea Valley, 1-0, in overtime.
Biglerville (14-6 in 2014) graduated four seniors from last year's squad; striker Matt Cellucci (11 goals, six assists), midfielder Gerry Lua (four goals, four assists), defender Stevie Daron (four goals) and goalkeeper Yovan Garcia (nine shutouts).
Returning for the Canners up front is junior striker Jared Dotson-Jones (four goals, four assists) and senior winger Jose Cernas (four goals, three assists).
The midfield might be Biglerville's deepest position with three returning starters, senior Carlos Esquivias (four goals, 10 assists), junior Connor Griest (five goals, four assists) and sophomore Chris Cellucci (three assists). Nelson also noted that freshman Carlos Castillo has a lot of potential.
The back line will be anchored by senior Brendon Shannon.
Other returning players expected to battle for starting spots are sophomore striker Christian Saldivar (four goals), junior defender Fisher Taylor, sophomore midfielder Bryan Diaz and senior winger Derek McCleaf.
Senior Ricardo Mendez is penciled in as the starting goalkeeper. He started for the junior varsity team last year and saw action in eight varsity matches.
In Nelson's five years at the helm, the Canners have won 80 matches, and he cites his assistant coaches as playing a big part in that success.
"Jose Reyes and Mike Rice have been with me since I became head coach back in 2010," Nelson said. "We're on the same page, we think alike and share the responsibilities of coaching the team. I coached Jose when he played here over 10 years back and Mike has been a great goalie coach for us."
The Canners open their season Saturday at the Gettysburg Kickoff Tournament against host Gettysburg at 9 a.m.
Nelson had high praise for the Warriors, called them, "loaded with talent."
The Canners also face Penn Manor at 11:30 a.m.