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PUTNAM NEWS
Winfield High School boys soccer wraps up season
No. 29 Jeremy Mitchell was Winfield's leading scorer with six goals for the 2009 season. The sophomore forward will return to play with Generals in the 2010 season.
Purchase this photoWINFIELD -- With the conclusion of the 2009 season, the Winfield boys soccer team can look back with pride and forward with anticipation.
The Generals played a formidable schedule, including four top-10 teams, and finished the year 6-7-6. Seniors through freshmen contributed to the outcome of all matches. With a break or two, the record would have had more upside.
Schedule
Winfield played all comers and seemed on the cusp of knocking off one of the heavyweights. The Generals lost 1-0 to both Charleston Catholic -- which finished the regular season ranked second in the state -- and Woodrow Wilson, which finished ranked sixth. Both are playing in the state semifinals (Woodrow Wilson in class AAA and Charleston Catholic in class AA) this weekend in Beckley.
In another big game, Winfield took a 1-0 lead into halftime against George Washington but ended up losing 5-1. The Patriots finished the year ranked seventh. The Generals beat 21st-ranked Greenbrier East on the road and 18th-ranked Oak Hill at home. Oak Hill also is playing in the state semifinals in class AA.
Scheduling conflicts prevented Winfield from playing undefeated rival Hurricane. And the Generals lost to 4th-ranked Parkersburg 3-1 in the state sectional playoffs.
Statistics
Winfield will return its top scorers in 2010. In 2009, sophomore forward Jeremy Mitchell led the Generals in scoring with six goals, followed by sophomore forward Connor Kleppinger and freshman forward Preston Sheldon with five a piece. Top defender Matt Wilton led the seniors in scoring with four goals, and senior forward Billy Daly found the net three times.
Senior forward Drew Goodman and sophomore forwards Dylan Doddrill and Andy Ellington led the team with three assists each. Five Generals (Billy Daly, Jordan Bibbee, Jeremy Mitchell, Preston Sheldon and Luke Martin) had two assists.
Senior defenders Matt Wilton and Jeremy Harper anchored the Winfield defense in 2009. Goalie Posey, also a senior, had a 1.71 goals-against average in the regular season.
The team returns key defenders Jordan Bibbee and Glen Smithberger (juniors) and Tanner Wolfe (sophomore) in 2010. Sophomore Randy Dotson likely will take over in goal.
Injuries
Aside from the usual bumps and buises, the Generals only sustained one major injury. Sophomore forward Luke Martin broke his wrist in the second game of the year against St. Joseph's of Huntington. The team missed his speed and productivity. In the three games he played, he had a goal and two assists.
Seniors
All good things come to an end, and the season marks the end of the soccer careers of seven seniors. Some have played with each other since their early recreational soccer years. Here are the seniors and their future plans:
Ryan Carney: Marshall University, pre-veterinary medicine
Billy Daly: West Virginia University, major undecided
Drew Goodman: college undecided, engineering
Jeremy Harper: college and major undecided
Brandon Posey: college undecided, computer engineering
Joey Richmond: West Virginia University, major undecided
Matt Wilton: Marshall University, physical therapy
