The Edgewood boy's soccer team looks to be one of the top teams in South Jersey, with ten returning players off of an 8-7-5 record. "If the chemistry is right then the sky is the limit", believes Coach Ron Wence. "Having lost only an outside back to graduation, we should be better than last year". This is Coach Wence's fifth year as head coach, with a 36-29-10 record.

The ten returning players have a lot of experience. "Most of them have been on the Varsity team for three years" said Coach Wence. The team will be lead by Captains Mike Muckley (Sr.), Keith Swingle (Sr.), Joe Banks (Jr.) and Ian Simmons (Jr.). Mike Muckley is considered one of the best players in the conference and "a possible S.J. defender of the year" said Coach Wence, "He can do it all". As a defender, Mike had 4 goals and 4 assists last year. Keith Swingle is starting his fourth year as keeper for the Eagles. Joe Banks is the center back, great in the air and is a Scholar athlete and All-Conference player. Ian Simmons plays mid-field, technically gifted, great vision, and the quarterback of the team. Ian had 4 goals and 6 assists last year. The other six returning players include Mike Ocbo (Jr.), a defensive back, Scholar Athlete and All-Conference player. Sean Geary (Jr.), Mid-field/Forward, scored 9 goals and 6 assists last year. Pete Vizzi (Jr.), Mid-field, a versatile player, played every position last year and had 3 goals and 3 assists last year. Erik Schmid (Jr.), Mid-field is a three year starter. Kevin McMahon (Jr.), Mid-field, is the hardest worker on the team. Brian Alber (Jr.), Forward, is a very dangerous forward, and lead the team in scoring with 11 goals and 5 assists. Brian should be another one of the top players in the conference and South Jersey.

One of the weak points is the depth of the team. "Our starting group is one of the best in South Jersey, but there is a large gap when we go to the bench" said Coach Wence. Most of his players play for the South Jersey Barons youth teams.

Coach Wence feels that the competition for the conference will be between Edgewood, Bishop Eustace and Paul VI. His top five ranking of players in the conference are Mike Muckley, Pat Welding, Joe McKeever, Paul Baily, and Brian Alber.

This is the last year for Edgewood because of the district dissolution. It would be nice to win the conference and maybe the States. It was twenty years ago that Edgewood won its last conference title in boy's soccer and twenty two years since winning the Group III South Jersey Championship. I should know; I was fortunate to have played on both of the teams.