High school boys soccer: Previewing teams from around Kendall County

The boys soccer season starts this week. Here are previews of teams from around the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Newark-Seneca co-op

Coach: Henry Cheung (first season).

Last season: 13-10-1

Top returners: Carson Collett, sr., M/F; Steven Martin, sr., F.

Key newcomers: Brooke Kala, sr., M/F; Lance Pasakarnis, fr., D; Nathan Kath, fr., D.

Worth noting: Cheung, also the head women’s soccer coach at Kishwaukee College, takes over as Newark coach ... This is the first season with the school team for Kala, committed to Tennessee-Martin for soccer ... In previous falls she opted to play club with Chicago Inter Soccer Club out of Lockport ... She is expected to be Newark’s leading goal scorers along with returners Collett and Martin ... Collett was the team’s offensive MVP last season with 21 goals and 18 assists ... Cheung will count on Robert Rios and Jesus Rios to control the midfield, with freshman Jaxyn Sibert in goal. ... Cheung said he’ll be banking on seven underclassmen to mature quickly.

“It will take us a couple of games to find our identity, but talent-wise, we should be on par with everyone else,” Cheung said.

Oswego

Coach: Gaspar Arias (fourth season).

Last season: 18-4-1, first place in Southwest Prairie Conference.

Top returners: Samuel Matthew, sr., M; Daniel Avila, jr., F; Jael Chavez, jr., M; Jose Castro, sr., D; Luis Garcia, sr., D.

Key newcomers: Diego Contreras, jr., F; Jack Walsh, jr., F.

Worth noting: Oswego has raised the bar for its program going forward, going undefeated in conference the last two seasons with back-to-back regional titles ... The Panthers, though, graduated quite a bit of talent, with Record Newspapers Player of the Year Steven Udy and conference MVP Mason McCaw among those moving on ... Arias only has six returning players from last season, so his outlook is top five in conference.

“It will be a challenging year for us, but I’m glad we are having a season,” Arias said. “These boys deserve it.”

Oswego East

Coach: Stephen Szymanski

Last season: 7-13-2, 5-6 Southwest Prairie Conference.

Top returners: Kellen Klosterman, jr., M; Grant Glorioso, jr., M; Carter Boberg, jr., M; Cael Cummings, jr., D; Owen Kiilsgaard, sr., GK; Jack Conway, sr., D.

Key newcomers: Josh Frank, jr., M; Min Kha, jr., M; Mauro Hernandez-Montes, jr., D.

Worth noting: The Wolves return a ton of guys with playing experience ... Oswego East’s huge junior class is 19-deep with players who can contribute on the field ... Conway is committed to play collegiately at St. Francis ... Frank is a big addition to the team along with Kha and Hernandez-Montes ... Szymanski said the Wolves should finish in the top four of the league.

“If we can put the ball in the net consistently we have a chance to be pretty good,” Szymanski said. “This year is going to be a wild one but we are ready for the quick ride.”

Plano

Coach: Tom Dean (seventh season).

Last season: 4-20-2, 1-9-1 Interstate Eight Conference (sixth place).

Top returners: Jeffrey Trujillo, sr., M; Vincent Herbig, jr., D; Diego Heredia, so., F; Alexis Arellano, sr., M; Ricky Montoya, sr., D; Hugo Tochimani, sr., GK.

Worth noting: The Reapers return a strong core from last year’s team. Dean, in his ninth season total as Plano coach, said the numbers are lower than normal but the team is cohesive and will work to be competitive ... Herbig, who scored five goals last season, and Montoya, return as a pair of center backs that work well together ... Tochimani, who made 64 saves last season, is back in net ... Heredia, who had three goals and two assists last season, and Trujillo, who had four goals and four assists, hope to find the back of the net with consistency and Arellano, who had three assists as a junior, runs the midfield with a light touch, according to Dean.

“It’s exciting to see the season ahead of us,” Dean said.

Sandwich

Coach: Aaron Mlot (third season).

Last season:12-12-5, fifth place in Interstate Eight Conference.

Worth noting: The Indians last season won double-digit games for the first time in program history and set a school record for wins ... A large senior class that included All-Area goalkeeper Sead Sejdiu has graduated, but Mlot said their character, poise and leadership has trickled down to this year’s group. ... Sandwich’s numbers are down, with just 15 guys on the roster, but there is a large crop of incoming freshmen and Mlot said to be careful not to dismiss the Indians.

“We’re all grateful for this opportunity to play, and this team will work hard for one another,” Mlot said. “If we come up short, we’ll find something to celebrate, pick ourselves up and get ready for the next challenge on or off the field.”

Yorkville

Coach: Chris Palmisano (second season).

Last season: 6-15, 2-9 Southwest Prairie Conference.

Top returners: Preston Huitron, sr., M; J.C. Noyola, sr., F; K.J. Calder, sr., F; Gerio Fragale, sr., D; Luke Granholm, sr., D; Matt Angerame, sr., M; Nick Larson, sr., D.

Worth noting: Palmisano expects to have a much better team offensively in his second season, and in Yorkville’s second season in the SPC ... the Foxes will certainly be experienced, with 17 seniors returning ... Huitron, all-area and all-conference last year, had a team-high nine goals and five assists and will look to build on that success. “He has been an absolute leader for the team both on and off the field and is an amazing talent anchoring our center midfield,” Palmisano said. Calder, Angerame and Noyola will look to build off their strong performances from last season ... Yorkville will also be more experienced defensively with Fragale, Granholm and Larson back.

“In the most unique year in my career so far as a coach at any level the focus more than ever before will be about continuing to build on the positive culture that has been established program wide,” Palmisano said.