Baldwin maintains high expectations

With the defense depleted, Baldwin boys’ soccer coach Chris Soupios has a big task to repeat as regular-season champions of Nassau Class AA.
But with the brilliant goaltending seen from Josue Ascencio Cueva, anything’s possible. 
During Baldwin’s stirring 9-1-4 season of 2021, Cueva stole a few games. Now he may have to steal a few more if the Bruins want to repeat. 
“He’s an incredibly athletic goalie,’’ Soupios said. “Great natural reflexes. He’s always in the right spot. He has the ability to read where a player is going on penalty kick and get that diving stop.”
The shocking 1-0 first-round loss in the playoffs to eighth seeded Syosset wasn’t for lack of goaltending. 

Baldwin should have more firepower in 2022 even if it has lost, as Soupios says, “the heart of our defense.” 
Gone are defenders Ashel Santos, who is playing at SUNY-Old Westbury; Luis Ascencio, on the soccer team at College of Staten Island; Shemroy Young; and Anthony Ramos. Santos and the older Ascencio had been starters for four years.
Baldwin won’t have stars on the backline but the program hopes to have a cohesiveness to compensate for the losses. 
“It’s team unity on defense - we’re not going to be carried by one guy,” Soupios said. “It’s not a unit of superstars. It’s a group of them becoming a unit and comfortable with each other.”
Adding to the defensive quandary is their defensive standout is out until midseason with a muscle pull, Andres Mareno-Mahecha, who plays center back. Senior Aiden Vera, sophomore Paul Fleck, junior Brady Mahler and Christian Smaller will have to hold down the fort until Mareno returns. 
The goods news is expect more goals. That’s a relief after being blanked in the playoff shocker. In all, Baldwin has three returning All-County players.
One of them is midfielder, junior William Zelaya, who is ready to lead after booting 7 goals with 2 assists.
But Zelaya won’t be counted on just as an offensive dynamo. Baldwin’s coaches want Zelaya to be more conservative and stay back to help an inexperienced defense. 
That could hurt his goal-scoring numbers but Soupios isn’t worried. He’s got midfielder Justin Jean-Louis, a skilled playmaker and glue piece who was All-County.
“(Jean-Louis) only had one goal and four assists but it’s the way he’s able to control the game with the ball on his feet, slow the game down and let things open up for other players,” Soupios said.
Jean-Louis notched a slew of secondary assists – which is not an official stat. Senior striker Ben Hernandez and center midfielder Robert Bautista add depth to Baldwin’s attack.
“Almost our entire offense is returning,’’ Soupios said. “I’m hoping everyone will jump up and boost their statistics. We’ll be more dangerous offensively than last year.’’
After losing its first game last season, Baldwin reeled off 13 games without a defeat.
“If I said to our goal wasn’t to win the conference, I’d be lying,’’ Soupios said. ‘Do we have the players to do that this year? We definitely do. But that’s on paper. It’s another thing to go on the field and do it. It might take us a little while to get where we need to be.”