Soccer: Cougars edge Skyhawks, 1-0

Steve Silver, Special to the Home News

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008 | 11:52 a.m.

Forget the referee's whistle, the cheering parents and the screaming coaches. When the Coronado boys' soccer team takes the pitch, sophomore goalie Denny Sellitti's voice drowns out everything else surrounding the game.

Sellitti seemingly never takes a breath during the Cougars' 80-minute contests as he constantly directs his defense and screams words of praise to attackers at the other end of the field.

The 15-year-old goalkeeper's raucous approach to the game proved crucial on Wednesday as the Cougars shutout the Silverado Skyhawks 1-0 in a Class 4-A Southeast League clash to improve to 4-2 (3-1 league).

"I learned that if I'm not the loudest guy out there then the other team is going to score," said Sellitti, who made a staggering 12 saves against the Skyhawks. "The defense will miscommunicate and give up through-balls, so you have to make sure everyone can hear you all the time."

It is just that kind of vocal leadership from the goalkeeper that has first-year head coach Dustin Barton eyeing a deep postseason run. Barton spent the last five seasons coaching the Class 3-A Boulder City Eagles.

Although Sellitti only saw sparse varsity action last season, the young net-minder has posted two shutouts and allowed just eight goals in six games.

"We try not to allow other teams to get off quality shots, but if we do, we know we have a great keeper back there," Barton said. "(Sellitti's) a real leader, especially on defense."

While Sellitti is quick to pass off praise, he did not hesitate to point out that the Cougars' early success this season is due in large part to senior midfielder Jake Leclair's propensity for finding the back of the net.

Leclair, who notched the Cougars' only goal on Wednesday in the 51st minute, has already accounted for five of Coronado's seven goals this season.

He is one of just six returning starters for the Cougars.

"Jake is our go-to goal scorer and leader," Sellitti said. "He pumps up the team and if one of us is starting to get a bad attitude he'll be the first one over to start talking to you and get you thinking positively."

Even with an established star like Leclair sparking Coronado's offense and Sellitti anchoring the defense, Barton said he needs a team effort to change the regular postseason failings of the Cougars and turn them into title contenders.

Since the school's opening in 2001, Coronado has won just one playoff soccer game. Last season, the Cougars did not even make the playoffs, finishing one victory away from the postseason.

"We are progressing nicely," Barton said. "We are where we want to be at this point in the season and we are getting better each game. Our goal is to just play good soccer. The playoffs and everything else will come when we starting playing good soccer."