Rams look to continue momentum
West Hempstead made strides on the boys’ soccer field in 2009, finishing 5-7 in conference play. Coach Chris Van Kovics is hopeful that the Rams can continue to build upon the momentum it built a season ago.
“We won’t have a lot of depth, but I feel if we stay healthy and play our game, we can be competitive every time we take the field,” Van Kovics said. “With only 19 players on the roster, staying healthy is going to be a big key.”
The Rams compete with Great Neck North, Valley Stream South, Bethpage, Glen Cove, Manhasset, and Lynbrook in Conference VI.
The Rams will be relatively inexperienced in net. Sophomore Cadeem Harris and senior Tom Valerio will split time at goalkeeper. Both are athletic players who can help at any position on the field. Valerio will provide scoring when playing forward. Harris had eight saves in a 2-1 non-league victory over Elmont.
Senior captain Casey Schneider and senior Chris Mosca are more or less interchangeable at sweeper and stopper. Senior Joe Visone is a solid defender who can make a run when necessary. Visone demonstrated this ability by taking the ball the length of the field and scoring in a 1-0 win over Oyster Bay as the Rams improved to 2-1.
A pleasant surprise on the backline for West Hempstead has been the play of junior Nick Branker. Whether it’s making good decisions or marking opponents, Branker has looked very solid in the early going. Also adding strength on defense are senior Alex Squciarino and junior Armond St. Juste.
At center-midfield, Van Kovics has a good one in Stephen Mancilla. The senior captain controls the pace of the game, and does a tremendous job of calling out defensive sets. A nice complement to Mancilla is junior Rolando Martinez. The coach counts on Martinez to provide strong, physical play.
Junior Paul Mytko sees the field well and is a good one-touch passer. Fleet-footed sophomore Kareem Harris makes solid crosses, and isn’t afraid to mix it up. Senior Genis Orozco is a versatile player who will be called upon to make corner kicks and free kicks.
Sophomore Luis Escobar is off to a fast start for West Hempstead. Escobar, who saw a little time with the varsity as a freshman, is a talented player with a nose for the ball and the back of the net. Escobar scored both goals in the victory over Elmont. Senior captain Scott Leeb is tenacious, fast, and can wear out opponents.
West Hempstead’s strength should be on defense. “I think the key to our success or failure is going to be based on how many opportunities we allow,” Van Kovics said. “We need to limit the opponent’s chances, and take advantage of the opportunities we get. I’d like to think we can compete for a playoff spot.”
West Hempstead hosts Great Neck North on Sept. 29 at 4:30 p.m.
