Looking Ahead to Fall: Roeper Counts on Star Siblings on Soccer Field

Family and brotherly love will be central themes for ’s boys soccer team this year.

Fueling the Roughriders’ on the pitch in 2011 will be the Vellette brothers: Jordan, an all-state midfielder last season, and his younger brother David. Jordan is a senior and David a junior and they will be relied on in tandem for a majority of Roeper’s offense.

“Those guys are a couple pretty good players,” Roughriders’ head coach Ed Sack said of his star siblings. “Jordan is as consistent as they come and David has really developed a nose for the back of the net lately.”

Roeper finished 2010 with a 10-8-1 record. Sack, who has been heading the program since 1998, has guided the Roughriders to five district titles during his tenure and thinks this year’s squad will be up for another one come state tournament time.

“This is a solid group,” he said. “We’ve looked good in the preseason so far and if that’s any indication, I think we’ll be in the thick of things by the end of the schedule.”

Senior Erik Burbula will lead the Roughriders’ defense this year from his spot at stopper. Nate Flynn, another senior, holds down starting goalkeeping duties for the veteran club that returns seven starters overall.

For more previews of the 2011 falls sports season in Birmingham, visit our Back to School Guide. Stay tuned for more mini previews of fall sports in Birmingham this week on Patch.