Thomsen takes over Cherokeee, a two-time soccer champion depleted of its stars

There's a calm in Glenn Thomsen's voice as he breaks down his Cherokee boys' soccer team.

The weight recently slung on his shoulders isn't mentioned, and there's no hint of the pressure one would expect he might feel.

This is, after all, Cherokee boys' soccer - established, decorated, rock solid as a program.

"You know," Thomsen said. "We've won two state championships in a row. So, right now, you don't want to fix anything until it's broken."

It has been less than three months since Thomsen took over as Chiefs coach. He is replacing Anthony Gallo, the reigning Inquirer coach of the year who led Cherokee to Group 4 state titles in 2010 and '11.

Accompanying Gallo's departure was the graduation of one of the most talented senior classes in recent South Jersey history.

Thomsen will be without graduated Inquirer player of the year Mike Ryan, a slingshot with legs and perhaps the best finisher in the state last year. The Chiefs also lost a star goalie in Barry Fitzgerald and their best midfielder in Angelo Dambalas - both first-team Inquirer all-South Jersey selections who helped Cherokee to a 25-0-2 record.

But just because this year's Chiefs lack superstars doesn't mean they aren't stacked with talent.

"The best thing about this team is that I don't really have a second string. I have fresh legs," Thomsen said. "I have about 16 guys who could be starters. During the preseason, I've kind of been like a hockey coach trying to put lines together."

Thomsen, an assistant with the Chiefs the past five years, stepped in after Gallo became Cherokee's assistant principal. Despite it being an enormously positive career move, Gallo conceded that walking away from coaching the Chiefs wasn't easy.

And it's never easy for players, either.

But with a familiar face in Thomsen, the transition has gone well.

"It was sad at first because Coach Gallo led us to two state championships," senior defender Jon Tarzy said. "But Coach Thomsen's been there. He helped us win states. He knows the kids. We're all comfortable with him."

Thomsen is using many of the same techniques and formations, and the same general formula implemented by Gallo. The system is modified just to fit this particular group, which includes five returning starters.

In many ways, the Chiefs are something of a microcosm of South Jersey boys' soccer this season: Legendary coaches departing, and more teams carrying lunch pails rather than accolades.

Gallo joins an impressive collection of coaches who called it quits after last season.

Shawnee coach Brian Gibney retired after 38 years, seven state titles, and almost 700 wins. Gibney and Gallo are the only South Jersey coaches ever to win back-to-back state titles in Group 4.

St. Augustine coach Les Heggan also announced his retirement, after more than 40 years as a high school coach. He led the Hermits to three state titles.

It fits the theme of this year's South Jersey boys' soccer season.

New faces. New chapters. New opportunities.

"We had strong seniors last year," Tarzy said. "But players are ready to fill those positions and work hard. We might not have a real leading goal-scorer this year, but we're a balanced team and we're all going to work together and find ways to win games."