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The Starting 11

GK: Max Kurtzman, Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.), Pennsylvania
D: Zach Arch, Shipley School (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), Sr., Temple
D: Alex Beatty, Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.), Sr., Princeton
MF: Mike Gonzalez, Conestoga (Berwyn, Pa.), Sr., Lehigh
MF: Tim Lazorko, Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem, Pa.), Jr.
MF: Chris Makowski, Faith Christian (Sellersville, Pa.), Sr., Syracuse
MF: Jimmy McLaughlin, Great Valley (Malvern, Pa.), Sr., Colgate
F: Tom Baker, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), Sr.
F: Zach Batteer, Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Sr., Stanford
F: Chris Somerville, Unionville (Kennett Square, Pa.), Sr., Virginia
F: Mike Wilkie, Penn-Trafford (Harrison City, Pa.), Sr., Virginia Tech

* The Starting 11, compiled during the summer months, is based on elite players expected to play high school soccer this fall.

Sizing Up Pennsylvania

Come September, there will be team roster and a weekly Roll Call of players who scored and who played well from the previous week on northcatholicsoccer.com.

The only problem – there won’t be a team.

Northeast Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), known locally as North Catholic, closed its doors after 84 years, bringing an end to a storied school that wielded a powerhouse soccer program. North Catholic claimed 22 Philadelphia Catholic League titles between 1956 and 2008, including a stretch of eight in a row during the late 1950s and early 60s.

North Catholic was one of two PCL high schools closed by the archdioceses due to financial reasons. At its height in 1953, North Catholic reported 4,726 students in its all-male institution to be recognized as the world’s largest Catholic high school for boys. The opening of new Catholic schools in Philadelphia quickly chipped away at the population during the 1960s, and a general decline in Catholic school enrollment in recent years left it with 551 students last year.

“We fought up to the 11th hour,” former soccer coach Jerry Brindisi said about attempts to keep the school alive.

Around March 15, Brindisi said, the final effort failed, leaving the remaining staff and students to scatter.

“We would have loved to have packed up the program and go to [Archbishop] Ryan or [somewhere else], but all these kids have different needs academically and in geography,” Brindisi said.

Most remaining North Catholic players spread among three schools – Roman Catholic, Ryan and Father Judge – all located in Philadelphia. Brindisi, after 12 years as head coach at North Catholic, reports as an assistant coach at Roman Catholic on Aug. 16, the first day of fall tryouts. He expects about 12 former North Catholic players at Roman Catholic.

Although the North Catholic program no longer exists, Brindisi said the memory will live on.

Plans are moving forward to continue the annual alumni game and the recently founded North Catholic Soccer Hall of Fame will continue to admit past players. In addition, a roster of current high school players who would have been at North Catholic will appear on its website, updated with the player’s new school. Brindisi said weekly accolades will be announced, just as years past, with top goal scorers and performances from what would have been the North Catholic team.

“It’s just our way of dealing with it,” Brindisi said.

Coach of Note

George Todt, Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Todt joined the national 600-win club last season, becoming only the 11th high school boys' soccer coach to reach the milestone. He has spent all 40 years of his coaching career at the Philadelphia Catholic League school, once saying, "It was my first job, and it's my last job."

Ranking the Teams

1. Unionville (Kennett Square, Pa.)
2. Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
3. La Salle Collegiate (Philadelphia, Pa.)
4. Pennsbury (Fairless Hills, Pa.)
5. Father Judge (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Matches To Watch

Defending Champions

Pennsylvania: AAA Central Dauphin and Father Judge** | AA Octorara | A Christopher Dock

**AAA state final ended in 0-0 draw