Beaufort soccer on the rise

There was a time when the goal of Beaufort High School boys soccer was to just reach the playoffs.

It's funny what two region titles in a row can do for expectations.

"When I first started here, we were trying to get that fourth playoff spot," BHS boys soccer coach Jon Greenlee said. "Now, nothing other than being No. 1 is acceptable. I think that's a testament to these guys and how hard they've work and how long they've worked."

The soccer team has undergone the same kind of resurrection the football program did when Mark Clifford took over in 2003. Again, it took the right coach to change Beaufort's soccer culture.

The turnaround Jon Greenlee has orchestrated with Beaufort's soccer program is arguably more impressive than Clifford's revival of the football program because of the support programs in place.

Football has the benefit of having many feeder systems. Between pee-wee, middle school, junior varsity and B-team football, there are a variety of levels to develop talent for high school football in the area.

Soccer doesn't have that kind of edge in the Beaufort area. Blue Crab Soccer and the Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services leagues are the only outlets for youth soccer players to develop.

Compare that to the Charleston area, where there are several club teams in operation. It shouldn't be much of a surprise that Fort Dorchester, Summerville and West Ashley high schools (the three region schools in the Charleston area) were at the top of the pecking order in Region 8-AAAA.

"That's a big challenge here," Greenlee said. "Most of the kids didn't have a chance to play club ball. There's Blue Crab, but it's very limited (with its age group restrictions). A lot of kids that play for me go to Charleston (or) Savannah to play. It's immeasurable the offseason work the guys get through Blue Crab, Mount Pleasant Soccer Club or Summerville Soccer Club."

It's that pedigree that kept Beaufort ranked behind Fort Dorchester and West Ashley for most of the season. The Eagles are currently ranked No. 7 in the state by scsoccer.net.

Despite not having those advantages, Beaufort has assembled a talented bunch of players, led by forward Erik Jaramillo, goalkeeper Erik Mozzo and midfielder Adam Smunk.

Jaramillo is like lightning on the wing with true game-changing ability. Teams have to game plan for him. That's what happened in Tuesday's 3-1 win over Ridge View High School in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs.

Jaramillo had torched the Blazers for four goals in their 2007 playoff loss to Beaufort. Ridge View's coach decided that Jaramillo wasn't going to beat him this year. The only problem with that strategy is the Eagles are more than Jaramillo.

Smunk leads a talented group of midfielders that can score with their feet or their head, while Mozzo does his best impression of a stone wall every game.

He's allowed only 17 goals in 18 games this season.

The Eagles' success this season has earned them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs because of the way the bracket was drawn up. That means AAAA power Spring Valley, undefeated this season, and perennial stalwart Wando would have to come to Beaufort.

Before the Eagles can prove themselves against the two best teams in the Lower State, they'll have to get by Stratford High School tonight.

Beaufort will be without midfielder Ashby West, who received a red card against Ridge View and will have to sit out the game.

It just gives Beaufort more fuel to prove that Eagles soccer is here to stay.

"We hope we're not finished," Greenlee said.