Cardinals Men Strong in the Middle
Regan must find replacements for three starters on D

The following appeared in the August 22, 2010 Wheeling Intelligencer.

By JOSH STROPE, sports writer

Wheeling, WV, August 22, 2010---During a Sept. 11 ceremony, Wheeling Jesuit will honor the 10-year anniversary of one of the most successful teams in school history, a squad that held the No. 1 ranking in the national poll and reached the Elite Eight.

It will be a walk down Memory Lane for Coach Jim Regan, who hopes his current Cardinals team can do something that even that team failed to do.

''We were upset in the conference semifinal that year,'' Regan said.

Conference championships are always the goal at Wheeling Jesuit and the 27-year coach thinks his team is capable of winning that title.

''We always set that goal because we know we are always going to be in that mix,'' Regan said. ''The kids know that when they come in here that we have a chance to win it. They know they have to show up every day, stay injury-free, and also, a little luck has to go in it, too.''

Wheeling Jesuit brings back seven starters and depth at midfield.

Adam Pharo is the team co-captain. Kevin Robson is an attacking midfielder, very quick with an eye for the goal. Paul Silvestrone earned recognition from conference. Dominic Wesh and George Noubossie have a lot of quickness.

''The one thing we have to watch for, and it's because we have an abundance of talent that we like to go forward, is that we give up something too fast and get caught in a counterattack,'' Regan said. ''We have to find someone that is going to sit in that role and play inside in front of the back four. Andrew Hickey has done that in the past and Conor McAliney is a kid strong enough to play that role and protect that back four.''

Last season's leading scorer Victor Picchio returns. The sophomore from Argentina scored seven goals for the Cardinals.

Joining him at forward will be Philip Mshelbwala and George Noubossie.

Freshman Chad Ford, who broke school records at Weir, is also in the mix and earning plenty of early praise from his coach.

''If he keeps up the work, he will get his chances to get in there and see how he does,'' Regan said.

One of the leading strikers from last season, sophomore Billy Wilson, broke his foot and Regan is unsure when or if he will play this season.

The biggest question mark revolves around the defense.

With the departure of Hans Moses, Tony Trabert, and Eric Steel, the Cardinals have lost three of their starting four defensive players. Stephen Hawthorne and Chris Reel the lone returning defensive veterans.

''I think the biggest problem so far is finding out who is going to replace them,'' Regan said. ''Overall, we look pretty good. If everything falls into place, we'll still be in the top four and in the hunt and see how the season goes.''

The leader of the defense will likely be the guy that is allowed to use his hands.

Shane Young is a fifth-year senior that had seven shutouts in 2009 for the Cardinals.

''(He) is a big key,'' Regan said. ''Shane played very well last year. He was stingy defensively and is around 6-foot-4, so he is a pretty big boy. It's nice to have someone returning from last season.''

The Cardinals were selected by the West Virginia Conferences as the fourth-place team behind defending champion Charleston, Davis & Elkins, West Virginia Wesleyan.

Charleston, which was the first WVC team to make a deep run the Division II Tournament since the 2000 WJU squad, will ironically be the opponent when the Cardinals pay tribute to their former players.

''Charleston just had everything going for them (last season) and they lost a couple kids to go Division I so that changes their chemistry,'' Regan said. ''They are picked No. 1 and deservedly so because they have a majority of returners, but it changes from year to year.

''Us, Wesleyan, Charleston, and D&E have always been in that top four. Some other teams are coming through like Concord and Seton Hill. The conference is very tight.''

Wheeling Jesuit will travel to Geneva for a scrimmage Wednesday before opening at home Sept. 2 against Lake Erie. Kick-off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.