The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Sports

November 3, 2009

Eagles’ Serge a sweeping success

By Dan Stillwell

Put into football terms, Woodrow Wilson sweeper Tony Serge is a soccer version of quarterback and safety.

At the same time.

“It’s a pretty key position,” coach Rocky Powell said. “The sweeper starts your offense and stops (the opponent’s).”

Serge, who will lead the Flying Eagles into state tournament play Friday at the YMCA’s Paul Cline Stadium, is in his third season as the last man standing before the goalkeeper.

“I’m there if the ball gets through or something happens,” Serge said. “I keep everyone organized.”

Serge, goalkeeper Pierce Jarrell, backs Christian Planté and Matt Prelaz and stoppers Travis Cole and Logan Powell are the primary cogs in a Woodrow defense that has allowed opponents just 17 goals this season.

Cole and Powell provide the muscle up front. Whoever gets by them runs into Planté and Prelaz.

The speedy Serge, coach Powell said, races in to “clean up the mess” before it gets to Jarrell.

“Tony has very good speed and he’s very calm and cool back there,” Powell said. “We’ve played a lot of good teams and I haven’t seen anyone who plays it any better than Tony.”

Serge talks to the defenders and midfielders, making sure everyone knows his job and where the threats are.

“I try to keep everything under control and not let anybody get panicked,” he said.

If an attacker starts getting close, Serge closes in for the kill.

“If they’re around the 18 (yard line), I like to handle things myself,” he said. “I don’t like to leave anything for chance.”

Once Serge gets the ball, it becomes his job to get the ball forward.

He prefers to send the ball to a nearby player rather than just kicking it long and hoping a Woodrow player runs under it.

“I like to play it small to a stopper or midfielder so they can turn and transfer to a wing,” he said. “I only play the ball long if I see a tactical advantage.”

Serge has also proved to be an offensive weapon on free kicks. In fact, he scored both goals in a 2-1 late-season win at Princeton.

“Tony is a weapon inside the midfield line,” Powell said. “We bring him up, let him put the ball in the box and let their defense and our offense sort it out.

“He can put the long ball in. He has a very strong leg.”

Serge downplays his efforts in the goals against the Tigers.

“I put the ball into the 6-yard box and it took a skid,” he said. “A couple of strikers were making diagonal runs in the keeper’s face and both times (the ball) went in.

“The strikers kept it going. It was just my night.”

Serge relishes the 11:45 a.m. semifinal matchup with Fairmont Senior.

The Polar Bears were the last team to defeat the 14-3-3 Flying Eagles, beating them 1-0 Oct. 10 on a long Dillon Leeson free kick in the final minute.

“That game should have finished 0-0,” Serge said. “We had an unlucky break.”

Since then, Woodrow has outscored opponents 17-3.

“We’re extremely confident,” Serge said. “Not cocky, but confident in our abilities

“Our team is clicking on all cylinders.”

— E-mail: dstillwell@

register-herald.com

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