Kennedy opponents coming up empty

Nothing comes easy for opponents of the Kennedy boys’ soccer team, especially goals. Through nine Conference A-1 battles, the Cougars (4-2-3) allowed a total of four goals, and three of those came in one game.

Junior goalkeeper Jake Silverman had a hand in seven shutouts, the most recent coming in a 0-0 tie with Division on Oct. 10. Thanks to the experienced defense in front of him, Silverman needed to turn away just a pair of shots. “He’s long and lean and able to get to balls most people normally wouldn’t,” coach Jason Elias said. “And as long as the defense is prepared and positioned, teams are not going to get off a good shot.”

Playing in front of Silverman is a veteran defense that includes senior sweeper Mike Watson, a four-year member of the team, and a pair of outside backers, seniors Evan Teich and Brian Calderaro. Though Elias prefers to utilize a three-person backline, there are times when senior Trevor Howe, a three-year member of the varsity team, helps out in the role of defensive center midfielder. “When we go into a game we know we’re not going to give up more than one goal,” Elias said. “But our lack of scoring is coming to a head. Hopefully we’ll just explode one day.” 

The Cougars offense showed up at just the right time against Garden City on Oct. 8, as a goal from senior Hunter Broadman with just five minutes to play stood up in the 1-0 victory. The Trojans, previously unbeaten in their first nine Conference A-1 games (7-0-2), survived an earlier flurry by Kennedy that included a shot off the crossbar and the subsequent rebound that was booted wide of the net, but couldn’t stop Broadman, whose shot ended up in the far right corner of the goal. “In the last 10 minutes when you can outplay Garden City it says a lot about the team because they keep coming,” Elias said.

The win over Garden City came just four days after a tough 3-1 defeat to Jericho, the two-time defending Nassau Class A champions, and is a testament to the team’s toughness and ability to bounce back. “We came back and won every 50/50 ball,” Elias said. “They put themselves in position to be successful. To turn it around [after the Jericho game] I have to give them all the credit in the world.”

Broadman, the team leader in goals with three, could get some help down the stretch from Calderaro, who was on the verge of moving up to forward to provide additional scoring punch. “We’re in search of a lift and we think he can score,” Elias said of his outside back.

The four-man alignment at forward also includes junior Jason Bergman and at times senior Eric Soto, who also logs time at midfield. Senior Ben Rabinowitz, a four-year member of the team like Watson, takes the field at left midfield, and senior Zac Dorushkin is also in the mix. “The upside [to the team] has no limit,” Elias said. “It’s the type of team that could easily make a run. I’m excited to coach these guys through the playoffs and give them a good run.”