Sports - November 2003

Wildcats soccer has three-year winning streak

Published November 19, 2003

By JOHN MARK BROOKS, Staff Writer

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The Lincolnton Middle School soccer team has an amazing streak going.

 Their perfect 13-0 record this season marks the third consecutive season they have not lost. They are 36-0 over that impressive run.

Coach Greg Pituch believes it has to do with the kids and not so much him.

“I attribute that to the players that have come through the school the past three years more than anything I’ve really done. It’s been a fortunate situation that we have had three years full of really good players and they all really enjoy the game of soccer,” he said.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic for the 2003 edition was that they allowed only four goals on the season. The Wildcats scored 84 in comparison.

Pituch feels that his team had every intangible a coach could want.

“They were very well-rounded and there were really no weaknesses at all with them. As a team they played well together and were strong in each spot,” he said.

Angelo Quesada had 18 goals, John Gilleland with 15 and Marco Garita with 11 goals were the leading scorers for this year’s team. Pituch raves about his eighth-grade leaders.

“They really helped control our game offensively. Quesada has been the top goal scorer the past two years and he really helped our team get off to quick starts. If there was a lull in the scoring John and Marco were always there to get a goal whenever we needed it,” he said.

With a winning streak so large and only two starters returning Pituch knows he will have a tough challenge ahead.

“I expect next year to be a good season as well. We do have a challenge because we only have two returning and only five players total coming back. There are going to be a lot of new faces out there trying to fill the important roles that the eighth graders left,” he said.

Although Pituch is very happy with the streak, he said it’s the kids’ effort that is most important to him.

“We’ve been really blessed the last few years. As long as the kids play hard and go out there and do their best I won’t take it as a loss even if we lose on the scoreboard. We’re still successful if they are going out there and playing hard and learning the game of soccer,” he said.

The coach has been the head of the middle school program for the last four years. He has compiled a 43-5 record, winning 89 percent of the time.

Pituch has either coached or played soccer for the past 21 years..

“It’s been a sport that I’ve loved all my life. Started playing when I was seven. Traveling teams, indoor teams and in college. I was really able to build my knowledge being around all those good teams,” he said.

Pituch not only wants to impart knowledge about soccer but life lessons as well.

“Being coach I just get to instill to my players to go out there and play tough and play hard while playing smart. All the while learning the game of soccer and learning how to deal with success and adversity in a positive way,” he said.

This years tri-county championship team was comprised of: Michael Aguilar, Ronald Rojas, Marlon Acosta, Fernando Sunsin, George Ramirez, Kevin Montes, Michael Montes, Jessie Arce, Adam Thompson, Irvin Perez, Daniel Morrison, Hong Seen Lai, Ben Beal, Edson Cruz, Yorhany Castillo, Randy Loaiza, Douglas Solis, Phillip Gregory and Javier Castaneda.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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