This fall, nine lettermen return from the George School varsity boys' soccer team that finished fifth in the Friends Schools League with a 5-7-2 record in 2009. Despite the experience, the team will be quite young—only two lettermen are seniors.

“We will be a year older and, I hope, a year bigger and perhaps wiser in the ways of soccer,” said Head Coach Paul Machemer ’65. “We only have two seniors among our lettermen but we can be quite effective if we play as a team and convert our half-chances.”
 
Simon James ’12 of Ardmore, Pennsylvania played mostly on the JV team last year, but he showed poise, a good positional sense, and good hands as our goalie in a 1-1 tie with a powerful team from The Hun School last fall. He seems ready to meet the challenge. Will Yarnall ’13 of New Hope, Pennsylvania, normally an excellent field player, held the fort as goalie against Moorestown Friends School.

Although Will Yarnall and Sean Potter ’12 of Berryville, Virginia, played most of the season effectively as stopper and sweeper, they have the skill and vision to earn roles farther forward. If they do, the entire defense will need reconstruction.

Candidates for center back include Ian Culleton ’11 of Newtown, Pennsylvania, Drew Fisher ’12 of New Hope, Pennsylvania—both strong players on the junior varsity team last year—and Cyrus Vakili ’13 of Yardley, Pennsylvania, who coordinated the freshman defense last year as a sweeper.

Jared Kimelheim ’13 of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, might find his role as a left back expanding this season. Last year he was reliable on the ball and a solid defender. Alex Ahn ’12 of Seoul, South Korea, has the speed to frustrate attackers but lacks experience as a defender.

On the right side, Clement Bohr ’13 of Copenhagen, Denmark, who practiced and played with the varsity last year but did not letter, and Nick Roman ’12 of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, who is up from the junior varsity team, will find strong competition from players like Caleb Smith ’12 of Tampa, Florida, and Eli Bresler ’13 of Kentfield, California.

The midfield will be crowded. In the paraphrased words of an old Hungarian proverb, “every soccer team must have members who can ‘play the piano,’ and a few who can carry it!”

Tommy Lodge-Yanez ’12 of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, and Sean Potter ’12 of Berryville, Virginia, both two-year lettermen already, can “carry” the piano, and then sit down to play it as well. They will have major roles in the midfield this season, especially if others can rise to the necessary level of effectiveness in the back four. Lucas Hamren ’11 of Princeton, New Jersey, returns from a year in France. As a sophomore, Lucas showed a lot of promise while playing on the junior varsity team. Nathan Small ’11 of Yardley, Pennsylvania, has the unflagging determination to succeed as a marking midfielder.

The team also has a half-dozen virtuosos to make beautiful music if they can learn to play in harmony.

Noah Kimelheim ’13 of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Devon Pinkus ’11 of Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Zack Kimelheim ’13 of Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Evan McGowan ’12 of Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Anthony Verleysen ’12 of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and Will Yarnell have skill, vision, and a lot of promise. Once they win the ball, they should be able to keep it for a while.

Gabe Haug ’12 of Ivyland, Pennsylvania, a two-year letterman, seems physically ready to take charge as a spearhead. A sprinter, Richie Schulz ’11 of Richboro, Pennsylvania, has worked hard to improve the technical aspects of his game and is looking forward to an excellent season. Clement Bohr, a player with skill but little competitive experience, also has the speed to threaten any defense. Diminutive Justin Mendez ’13 of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has extraordinary skills but may lack the size to compete successfully at the varsity level.

Of course, there may be students new to the school who will also compete for playing time, but their names are unavailable at press time.

Returning Lettermen:
Seniors: Adam Pinkus, Richie Schulz
Juniors: Gabe Haug, Tommy Lodge-Yanez, Sean Potter
Sophomores: Jared Kimelheim, Noah Kimelheim, Zack Kimelheim, Will Yarnall

Incidental Factoids:
George School’s overall record in August 2010 after 2009 season: 577-420-156 (includes 4 ties that were shootout wins (3) or losses (1) in playoffs so the official record might be 580-413-153)
Paul Machemer: 230 – 148 – 44 (including 3 victories in playoff shoot-outs that would be ties if lost)