Coach Jeremy McIntyre would love to be able to take credit for the transformation of the East Ridge High School soccer program, but he says he can't.
Teams to watch
1. Chattanooga Christian: Fielding a young team in 2009, the Chargers return loads of experience with nine starters back from a team that fell to Alcoa in a shootout in the Class A/AA state tournament.
2. McCallie: The Blue Tornado return six starters from a team that lost to eventual state champion Christian Brothers in the Division II-AA state semifinals.
3. Notre Dame: After a disappointing 2009 season, the Irish return eight starters, including an impressive sophomore class.
Players to watch
1. Arturo Rocha, McCallie: The sophomore forward started as a freshman and ended up a Division II-AA all-state selection with 15 goals and eight assists.
2. Rocklin Shumaker, Chattanooga Christian: The swift Charger was a Class A/AA all-state selection in 2009, finishing with 20 goals and 11 assists.
3. Drew Zumbrun, Boyd-Buchanan: Zumbrun was the local player of the year and an A/AA all-state selection with 20 goals and eight assists.
"The players have been the big thing," he said. "They work hard, play hard and have fun; that's kind of how they are. It's no secret about anything that I've done."
Last spring the Pioneers advanced to the Class A/AA sectional round -- the deepest run in school history. They won 12 games, after winning 11 combined the three previous seasons, before falling 4-2 to Station Camp.
East Ridge returns eight starters, including all-state senior midfielder Francisco Solar, so raising the bar is the theme for the team this year.
"I always have the players set goals at the beginning of the year," McIntyre said, "and we always try to have higher expectations than the year before. They kind of left last season unsatisfied. It was amazing what we did, but to be so close was unsatisfying and they've been motivated, wanting to set foot on the field in Murfreesboro and willing to work hard to do it."
The team has benefited from the use of some top-flight facilities at Camp Jordan, where they played their home games a year ago and will continue to do so this year.
"What's great about Camp Jordan is the quality of the fields," McIntyre said. "The way we play, it really helps. It's hard to play on a field that's bumpy and rough to where every time the ball is passed a few feet, it bumps and jumps. Camp Jordan is smooth, and we're able to play in the lights and make it a special event."
The Pioneers also get to benefit from the new district classification, which moves them away from perennial powers Chattanooga Christian and Notre Dame and into an all-public-school district.
"One of the things I love about this district is that it's up for grabs," McIntyre said, citing Hixson, East Hamilton and Arts & Sciences among its toughest district opponents. "There's not one team that dominates, so it should be good competition and it should be exciting."
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