AREA'S BEST | Boys soccer

Top teams
1. Mooney -- Defending Div. II state champs return The Vindicator player of the year in junior forward Kiki Willis. Sophomore Kevin Miller can make a difference too.
2. Canfield -- Coach Phil Simone has a veteran, talented team, and one of the best players around in midfielder Matt Pietro.
3. Howland -- The Tigers are loaded several area coaches report. They better be, playing in the Metro Athletic Conference. George Stephens is their coach.
4. West Branch -- Coach Matt Thomas has played the Warriors into elite company.
5. Warren JFK -- The Eagles didn't win a 2002 match on the field during the regular season but jelled in the tournament to play in the Div. III regional under coach Lou Cali. Ten starters are back.
6. Lakeview -- Played even with Mooney for much of last season's district final. A Mooney, Canfield, Lakeview, Poland district tournament this year is a real possibility.
7. Poland -- Should be the most improved team in town under coach Chris LaBatt in his third season.
8. Hubbard -- Traditionally strong team coached by veteran Rodney Leaman. Top-scorer Justin Daley is graduated but Chris Styn returns.
9. Fitch -- Sam Camens is now at Bucknell and coach Rigo Castillo retired. Can first-year coach Jeff Sosnowski lead the Falcons? We'll see.
10. Champion -- Coach Nate Mailach had the Golden Flashes ranked in the state most of last year. Nine starters return.
Also
Columbiana -- Clearly a program on the rise, led by scoring threat Barry Kimpel.
Badger -- The Braves, another strong team from the Trumbull Athletic Conference, were state-ranked in 2002. Karl Martin is the coach and senior midfielder Kyle Arnold returns.
Ursuline -- The Irish have dropped to Division III but veteran coach Lou Fusillo wants to get back to the regional. They reached it back-to-back a few years back.
Niles -- Rob Merlo has returned to coach after leaving the sideline for three years. Nathan Mang will play sweeper.
Salem -- The Quakers will be coached by Tom Wright, who last led them three years ago.
Boardman -- The Spartans will play in the tough Federal League.
Top players
Kiki Willis -- Mooney junior forward. One of the best players in Ohio. Likely already the finest player in Youngstown history.
Christo Frangopoulus -- Mooney senior midfielder. Never left the field last season in Mooney's playoff run.
Kevin Miller -- Mooney sophomore stopper. As a freshman marked the top offensive threat of Columbus DeSales in the state title match.
Matt Pietro -- Canfield senior center midfielder. If the Cardinals get to the regional, Pietro will have to carry them.
Chris Styn -- Hubbard senior forward is the marquee player on one of the top teams.
Adam Jones -- Canfield sophomore is a flat-out player.
Alex Colaluca -- Fitch wing. Came up big in regional loss to Hudson, ranked No. 1 in the country at year's end.
Omar Omar -- Harding junior can play for any team around. Will take the Raiders as far as they go in the post season.
Dan Craig -- Ursuline. Teams with Chris DePaolo to give the Irish a good 1-2 punch.
Zack Hernan -- Mooney sophomore midfielder. Might help make the sting of losing brother Mike, who graduated, go away.
Kyle Schimley -- Warren JFK midfielder played well in the regional run last fall.
Quinn Macali -- JFK senior forward missed the 2002 regular season with an injury but returned for the tournament. Now is healthy.
Russell Accordino -- JFK senior sweeper gives the Eagles a strong veteran presence on defense.
- Bill Sullivan