Soccer Lions prepare to face tough defense
March 21, 2010

By DAVID CLAYBOURN
Herald-Banner Staff

GREENVILLE -- Greenville will face one of the tougher defenses in Class 4A when the Lions open the soccer playoffs on Monday in Rockwall.

The Lions, who finished the regular season with a 6-4-6 record, will take on a 21-2-3 Frisco Wakeland team in an area playoff at 8 p.m. Monday at Wilkerson-Sanders Memorial Stadium in Rockwall.

That game will follow a 6 p.m. girls playoff game between Sulphur Springs and Wakeland.

Wakeland’s boys are giving up an average of only 0.3 goals per game, ranking the Wolverines among the Metroplex leaders in Class 4A.

The Wolverines’ offense, meanwhile, is averaging 2.5 goals per game. Len Smith leads Wakeland with 12 goals and three assists. Aaron Reifschnedier has produced nine goals and two assists and teammate Hayden Partain has managed eight goals and three assists.

Wakeland earned a first-round bye after winning the District 18-4A title with a 9-1 record. The Wolverines are 14-0-3 in road games this season.

Greenville also received a bye after finishing third in District 20-4A with a 5-2-3 district record.

Ryan Wilhelm scored two goals to lead the Lions to a 4-0 victory over Commerce in Greenville’s regular season finale. Ramon Alvarez and Rolando Carmona also scored for the Lions.

Lion goalkeeper Luis Torres recorded seven saves.

Omar Castillo, Andrew Carrillo and Miguel Sanchez racked up assists against Commerce as the Lions took 56 shots with 27 shots on goal.