After Waiting for New Fields, D.C. Schools Finally Get to Open Season

The soccer season is one month old for most area high schools. But public school teams in the District haven't played a single D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association game.

DCIAA play was delayed pending the scheduled completion of new fields at Spingarn, Anacostia, Eastern and Cardozo. The boys' season is scheduled to begin today, the girls' on Tuesday.

The schedules have been staggered because only five girls' programs are competing compared with nine boys' teams, but the playoff dates are the same for both genders.

Construction crews largely met their Oct. 1 deadline, according to Tony Robinson, an official with the D.C. Office of Public Education Facilities Modernization. Robinson said officials made alternate arrangements for football, using other available fields, but decided to delay the soccer season until the new fields were ready.

Rather than publish a schedule that would have to be amended several times over, DCPS Athletic Director Troy Mathieu said he elected to wait to release an accurate schedule.

Mathieu said he was also trying to avoid over-scheduling available fields such as Coolidge's.

"It's just a juggling match and we're trying to be fair across the board so that no one school is saying their school is overloaded with having to be adjusted," Mathieu said.

In the meantime, he's been bearing the brunt of phone calls from angry parents who want to know why their children's seasons haven't started yet.

Wilson girls' coach Carlos Guerra is one of the few coaches who has been grateful for the delay. His team has played five nonleague games, and starting freshman goalkeeper Damah Conteh broke her wrist in practice Friday, leaving the Tigers (4-1) in a spot.

"I hope they call me tomorrow and say, 'You've got a game Thursday,' he said, "[but] if not, it gives me a little more time to work on the goalie."

Depth Key for Episcopal

Episcopal boys' coach Rick Wilcox didn't mince words when explaining what's behind his team's 10-0 start.

"Depth," said Wilcox, whose squad recorded wins over Interstate Athletic Conference foes St. Stephen's/St. Agnes (4-1) and Landon (3-1) in the past week. "I've never coached a team with as many talented players that I can bring off the bench [and] help us deal with injuries."

The latest injury is to senior Shadow Sebele, a second-team All-Met who broke two bones in his left wrist during a tournament game against Richmond's St. Christopher's in mid-September. Sebele, who has 18 goals, scored the game-winning goal in overtime, but on the shot he got caught between two defenders and fell awkwardly. He played two games through the pain, but a visit with a doctor revealed the break and now he is wearing a hard, hand-to-elbow cast. . . .

No. 3 River Hill (5-0-1) is riding a 21-game unbeaten streak dating back more than a year, when the Hawks were 1-4 before embarking on a 15-game run to the Maryland 2A state title.

"I've been pretty pleased -- three straight shutouts, four in six games," said Coach Matt Shagogue, referring to outstanding play from freshman goalie Nick Voyton. "We're generating a lot of [scoring] chances."

River Hill plays Atholton tomorrow and Oakland Mills on Monday, but the big showdown looming is Tuesday's game with No. 6 Marriotts Ridge, which is also unbeaten and a threat to keep the Hawks from making a return trip to the state tournament. Both teams are in the 2A West Region.

"The team that wins the midfield is going to win that game," Shagogue said. The Hawks have gotten plenty of goal scoring from the duo of juniors Jason Plumhoff (six goals) and Jon Talbot (five). Talbot separated his shoulder last week against Wilde Lake but should be ready for Atholton.