Experienced East Meadow ready for takeoff

Things are looking up for the East Meadow boys’ soccer team.

While the Jets finished with a 2-11-1-mark last year, coach Bryan Horrmann is optimistic of a turnaround this season because he has most of his starters returning. The team lost only two seniors and one starter.

The Jets are a year older and a year wiser and are ready to compete in the Nassau County Class AA Conference.

"That is an advantage which is nice to have," Horrmann said of the returnees. "They know the coaching style. They know what I'm expecting of them. They are another year smarter or another year in shape, another year stronger. We lost a lot of games by one goal. We gave people a fight."

This year the Jets could be fighting for a playoff berth.

"We want .500 or better," Horrmann said. "That I think is a very attainable goal, because .500 or better and you're in the playoffs. My league is very challenging."

He rattled off the names of such imposing sides as Massapequa, Freeport, Plainview JFK, Syosset and Farmingdale.

"We played those teams last year, losing 1-0 or 2-1,” Horrmann said. “They're exciting games to watch. I'm excited to see exactly what they're going to do this year."

Horrmann's positive outlook comes from a core of key players.

Start with junior forward Dylan Wauchope (9 goals, 3 assists), an All-County selection last year. "He is a dynamic forward," Horrmann said. "He sniffs the goal. He has that ability to be in front of a net and be very sneaky."

Continue with senior center midfielder Alejandro DeJesus, who missed last season with a torn ACL.

"One thing I love about this kid is he doesn't stop," Horrmann said. “He just runs from end line to end line. His knowledge of the game and where he's supposed to be off the ball is very good."

Add senior midfielder Raymond McLeod to the mix. "He's probably one of the most dynamic players on the field," Horrmann said. "He's got tremendous speed. His lateral movement is very quick. His distribution is also top notch. He and Alejandro are going to work beautifully together. He’s a very good defender, too, which is a very underrated thing for a midfielder. He's one of the most trusted captains I've had for a very long time."

Then there's senior goalkeeper Jack DeVoti, whom Horrmann called a "very underrated goalie. “He kept us in many games last year," the coach added.

And let's not forget senior Robert Derwin, a versatile player in more ways than one. He can play center back or forward "depending on what our game plan is for that day," Horrmann said. Derwin also is the football's team placekicker. He booted a 52-yard field goal in practice recently.

"He probably has one of the strongest foot I've seen," Horrmann said.

If Derwin can boot in a few goals for the soccer team, that would be perfect.