Success is a common word when you talk about Blacksburg High School boys soccer and its longtime coach Shelley Blumenthal, who has spent 26 seasons at the school. His overall mark of 495 wins, 41 losses and 20 draws sends other coaches into a heads spin and chills down their spine.
Last season, the team was 21-2 but fell in the state championship to Riverside. Six starters are going but five important ones return including Austin Bissell (Radford University signee and honorable mention for all-region, and first-team all-conference) and Daniel Salom (first team all-conference, all-region all-state).
Bissel had six goals and six assists last season, while Salom netted five along eight assists. They will be joined by Sam Dickinson (16 goals, 5 assists), Bailey Prosser (8 goals, 6 assists) and goalkeeper Jordan Stevens (43 saves, 6 goals allowed, 16 shutouts).
“We expect to have a young team–possibly four sophomores, four juniors, and three seniors starting and a total of six seniors on the squad (very young for us) and hope to overcome several pre-season injuries. We have four starters out for our scrimmages this week and plan to improve significantly as the season progresses. We will also work to improve our depth and are excited about the team we have and their collective work ethic,” Blumenthal said.
Meanwhile Mark Layne takes over a program at Radford High School with high hopes of their own. Last season, Radford was 14-9 and the Division 1 state runner-up. This year, they move up to Division 2 and return nine starters.
Layne, Radford alum, is excited about the opportunity.
“I played when I was in high school and the chance to give something back was exciting to me. It’s a dream job, but I certainly didn’t expect the opportunity to come this quick,” he said.
He is familiar with the program having served as the jayvee coach and a varsity assistant for the past few years. When Wade stepped down after the state championship game last season where Radford finished as the runner-up, Layne had some decisions to make and it was a no-brainer in wanting to continue to move the Bobcat program forward.
Layne has worked in travel and recreation soccer for the past 10 years with the Roanoke Star Soccer Club and New River United.
Wade has turned over the keys to a very successful soccer program that includes several state runner-ups and a state title.
Returnees include Ateka Giahana who was first team all state this past season. Radford also returns five other major players in the form of Michael Hill, William Mitchell, Joe Kennedy, Grayson Hurst and Jacob Luckett.
“We hope to make another run deep into the playoffs, and we will be dealing with moving to Division 2 and a new regional playoff scenario,” Layne said.
The Bobcats are facing a tough stretch in early April when it plays five games in a nine-game stretch. Layne expects Giles to be a very strong team again, and district re-alignment added Alleghany and Carroll County to an already competitive group of teams.
Kris Teaford is in his second year at Auburn after going 7-9-1 last season before losing in the regional quarterfinal to Galax. He lost four pieces of his offense, but will return seven starters that include: Triston Perry (second team all-region, first team all-conference) who had seven goals and three assists; Lukas Matthews (second team all-region, first team all-conference), Cameron Chestnut (second team all-conference), Gage Phillips (second team all-conference) with nine goals and five assists, Richie Romo and Chase Phillips, a two-year starter who missed the 2017 season with an ACL tear.
“Last year our goal was to learn to compete at a high level not only in games but in training sessions as well. We implemented a new system of play that the boys bought into and found some success during the regular season. This year we are hoping to add to that success by continuing to work hard every single day,” Teaford said.
The team will also face a new district (Mt. Empire) that is loaded with playoff-rich programs like Galax.
“Galax has been in a great run of form winning three of the last four state championships including last year’s title. The guys that they bring back are used to a culture of success. Moving into the Mountain Empire District will be a test for us, but it is a challenge we are looking forward to,” the Auburn coach said.
Editor’s note: Christiansburg’s boys’ soccer coach did not respond to preview questions. Because of work on the football field, the boys’ soccer team will play one home game at Auburn High School, six home games at Eastern Montgomery High School, and one at Virginia Tech.
