#Devin Matteoni

[soccerstl]

McCluer Comets Capture Tournament Title

McCluer Comets Capture Tournament Title

The McCluer Comets celebrate following their 3-2 win over Hazelwood Central to capture the title of their tournament on October 12, 2017 In a game delayed a month due to the major rains we had in mid-September, the McCluer Comets won the title game of their Invitational Tournament, winning 3-2 against Hazelwood Central. The game was held at Koch Park which brought back some fond memories and a…

[soccerstl]

Ladi Bada stopped by Nic Matteoni during practice with the Hazelwood Central Hawks on August 2, 2017

A preseason stop last week to check in with Hazelwood Central Hawks soccer, a member of the Suburban XII North Conference (with Hazelwood West, McCluer, McCluer North and Hazelwood East). The boys finished 10-6 last year, 3-1 in the Conference just behind Hazelwood West. Class 4 District 4 includes West and North as well as Pattonville, who were the District Champions in 2016 before falling to CBC in Sectionals.

The team returns a core of five key players from last season. Seniors Devin Matteoni and DJ Matteoni were All-Conference picks are joined by Justin McCoy and Kelly Grant as well as Junior Bailey Lallis. McCoy and DJ Matteoni will anchor the defense, Devin Matteoni will pull the strings in the middle while Kelly Grant will play in the middle and up top. Lallis is crafty winger that will be called on with Grant to provide scoring as the team lost their top two scorers in Jarame Crawford and Peter Gakuo (21 of 37 goals).

PHOTO GALLERY – Hazelwood Central Hawks soccer

New in goal this year is Nic Matteoni, a sophomore who takes over for the graduated Jordan Hurt who is now at UMSL. Players who will be counted on to take on new responsibilities this season include Senior Jerred Wooten who will get time in the defense or midfield and Junior Caleb McClinton on the wing. Given the loss in scoring, several players will get opportunities to make a difference including Mahandad Mahmoud, Deebo Bada, Ladi Bada and Trey Ester (a freshman).

Head Coach Jeff Facchin returns for his second season at the helm, only the third coach in the programs history after Pat Rocco stepped down in 2015 to concentrate on the girls program and have more time for his growing family. Facchin is assisted by Claire Lovercheck, the Class 3 goalkeeper of the Year as a senior at Hazelwood Central in 2008 when she helped lead the team to Fourth place in Class 3, before moving onto to play for SIU Edwardsville. She was also a member of the U15 St. Louis Busch SC National Championship team in 2005. She’s been assisting the program for a number of years while teaching in the Francis Howell school district.

Facchin spent 2006-10 as an assistant with the team, returning in 2013-15 before taking over the Head Coaching position. He was a 1997 State Champion with DeSmet and played college soccer at Rockhurst & UMSL.

#gallery-0-4 { margin: auto; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-0-4 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-0-4 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Jerred Wooten

Asst Coach Claire Lovercheck

Caleb McClinton

Deebo Bada with ball

Head Coach Jeff Facchin

Kelly and Kamryn Grant

Nic Matteoni

Ladi Bada with ball

Justin McCoy watching the action

Devin and DJ Matteoni

Hazelwood Central Hawks Soccer A preseason stop last week to check in with Hazelwood Central Hawks soccer, a member of the Suburban XII North Conference (with Hazelwood West, McCluer, McCluer North and Hazelwood East).