Colts hang tough in top conference

Calhoun's taken some lumps since moving up to Conference AA-I in boys’ soccer, but they've been far more physical than mental. While the Colts record in conference play is 2-4, they've been on the wrong end of two consecutive one-goal games, including a 2-1 defeat at Syosset last Friday. The Braves scored both of their goals in the second half, including the game-winner in the final minutes.

"We completely controlled [the game] versus Syosset, but they put one in at the end of the game," Calhoun coach Jim Cantley said. "That was a tough loss. We played well enough to win. The [game-winning] shot from the top of the box was a laser."

Lasers are normally the specialty of Colts senior forward Corey Werbelow, who finished third in Nassau with 14 goals last season. Even the move up to the top conference in AA soccer hasn't slowed Werbelow down. He's already scored seven times, including the lone Calhoun tally against Syosset on a penalty shot. Senior Dan D'Ottone is Werbelow's running mate at forward. "He's getting double-teamed a lot," Cantley said of Werbelow. "He's taking a beating but still managing to get his goals. He possesses the ball very well and finishes well."

Senior center-midfielder Michael Guerra often rides shotgun to Werbelow in the offensive zone, taking on the Colts' role as top playmaker. "He's a field general and we need him to be the distributor," Cantley said.

Injuries have taken their toll on Calhoun during the first half of the season, as three starters have already missed at least a small chunk of time, and the defense and midfield have taken the brunt of the losses. Senior center-midfielder Samuel Dobre, a key cog in making plays alongside Guerra, went down just five minutes into the opener with a knee injury and hasn't returned yet. The loss of juniors Dan Elliott and Johnny Roth, along with Elliott Ullrich has dealt a blow to the defense. Absent two starters against unbeaten Hicksville, the Colts suffered their biggest defeat of the year, 6-0, to the Comets on Sept. 26.

"There's no easy game," Cantley said. "It's very physical and every game is a battle."