varsity.roanoke.com

The 2008 high school soccer season ended for Blacksburg on June 6 when the Bruins were blanked 2-0 in the Group AA semifinals by Jamestown.

It's not over for Blacksburg's Michael Breske, however.

Breske and teammates Jeremy Williams and Stephen Brewster headline a Timesland contingent that will suit up for the West squad in the VHSCA East-West All-Star game tonight at Christopher Newport University in Newport News.

The loss to Jamestown nearly a month ago -- which denied Blacksburg a shot at a 10th state championship -- still stings.

"Jamestown has some guys playing for the East, so there is some unfinished business," Breske said. "Plus we were looking at the record book and the West has only won three times, so we're looking for the upset. But at the same time, we're here for fun, too."

The three Blacksburg graduates will be reunited with Bruins head coach Shelley Blumenthal, one of three coaches for the West, which has won just once in the last six years.

"It's pretty cool," Williams said. "It's nice to get to play for him for one last time ever,"

Future Blacksburg players will have plenty of chances, now that Blumenthal has taken his old job back after a one-year hiatus.

Blumenthal led the Bruins to their ninth Group AA championship in 2007, then stepped down to take a job as a guidance counselor at the Roanoke Valley Governor's School for Science and Technology.

Former assistants Travis Bishop and Jon Bohland served as Blacksburg's co-head coaches in 2008, but both gave up their positions after leading the Bruins to a 22-1 record.

Blacksburg needed a coach and looked no further than Blumenthal, who never sold his home in Blacksburg and will work in the Blacksburg High guidance department.

Both Bishop and Bohland have full-time jobs and young children. Bohland, a professor at Hollins University, commuted to practice from Roanoke.

"I kind of saw it coming," Williams said. "During the season, you could tell that with their families and their jobs, you could see it coming."

Blumenthal -- who will be inducted into the Virginia High School Hall of Fame in October -- served as an assistant at Roanoke College last fall, so he has not forgotten how to coach. His hall of fame plaque will just have to be edited if he adds to the eight Group AA titles he has under his belt.

"We'll have enough to do, losing 13 seniors," Blumenthal said. "Are you kidding me?

"I'm excited about coming back to Blacksburg soccer. I'm tickled to be back."