Hewlett enters stretch run

Hewlett boys’ soccer coach Nick Lacetera, in his 26th year at the helm, knows there was a lot of buzz surrounding the team after it started 2019 with back-to-back wins.

The Bulldogs picked up non-league victories against Westbury and Calhoun to start off, and since then, the team has gone 1-1-4, all against Nassau Conference A2 opponents, most recently drawing 2-2 with Glen Cove on Sept. 16. Hewlett (3-1-5 overall) has played to a draw in three straight games and four of the last five.

“I think maybe we got a little overconfident,” Lacetera said. “The boys started to play a little bit too individual instead of like a team and we haven’t been able to put it away.”

Lacetera attributes the team’s early success to the teamwork and strong defense that he saw on the back end of the pitch.

“We were all kind of on the same page… and moved the ball better as a unit,” he said.

Since then, Lacetera said the team has lacked the chemistry he saw in the opening two games, but he made it clear that the team does not lack any motivation on the field.

The first two ties the team has recorded have been come-from-behind draws. Down against Manhasset and, most recently, Glen Cove, the team rallied to tie the game and save themselves a point in the standings.

“After we were down, they didn’t fold and buckle and give up,” Lacertera said. “I’m proud of my guys.”

Moving forward, Lacertera said it is up to the seniors to step up and take charge on the pitch. He particularly named seniors Josh Ziarno and Laurent Dorviller as two athletes that he expects to be leaders moving forward. Ziarno is tied for the team lead in goals with two while Dorviller is the anchor as goalkeeper and has recorded 43 saves and a shutout so far this season.

“[Ziarno] is a really talented kid. I need him to take control,” Lacertera said. “[And] I need Dorviller to take control on the back end and be a bigger voice.”

“I have a few seniors and it’s just time for them to step up and play a bigger role,” he added.

Other players that have been stepping up are juniors Carlos Agular and Brayan Dubon, both of who have also recorded two goals this season.

Lacetera said that Agular would miss some time with a groin injury, but Dubon will continue to be a force on the team. Dubon scored the lone goal in a 1-1 draw with Roosevelt on Sept. 26.

“[Dubon] is a very skilled player. He’s done a fabulous job,” Lacetera said. “If I can get more guys to play with him when he has the ball, I think he can create a lot more opportunities.”

Overall, Lacetera has seen enough positive from his team to be confident in their ability to be successful on the pitch moving forward.

“They work hard,” he said. “I know they have a lot of potential. We saw it at the beginning of the year and we just need to get them to do it again.”