Senior-led Lawrence aims high

Gerard Lagasse didn’t win a coach-of-the-year award in his rookie campaign at Lawrence. But he sure could have. 

In a storybook season, Lagasse, the longtime JV boys’ soccer coach, made his first year memorable in leading Lawrence to its first-ever Nassau County championship game. 

Though the Golden Tornadoes lost, 3-0 to Mineola at Mitchell Field, Lawrence finished a glorious 9-3-3.

 “It was a fun year, for sure,’’ Lagasse said. “We kind of overachieved a bit. The talent was there. The ability to have grit and determination to win games was there. It was a matter of pulling it all together and we did that.’’

 And now Lawrence is ready for an encore with nine seniors back, including arguably one of the state’s finest center back in Ben Perez

“The goal is not only to get to the county final but win the county final and get to the Long Island championship game,’’ Lagasse said. “The seniors want it. It’s a matter of our mentality. Teams are coming after us now. We have to be ready for that. It’s going to be a tough conference.’’

Lawrence opened its season Sept. 2 and 3 in the inaugural Sunrise Tournament hosted by Baldwin and split its two games. The Golden Tornadoes lost to Freeport, 3-1, then beat Baldwin, 3-0.

Lawrence lost its most valuable piece in high-scoring striker Jonathan Valiente, whom the coach calls “the heart’’ of last season’s team. But Perez is there to fill the leadership void after an All-Conference campaign. 

Perez wins most 50-50 balls, excels in the air and has the nose for the ball on defense. 

“I expect him to be first team all-county and potentially all-state,’’’ Lagasse said. “He’s playing fantastically. He controls the back for us. He’s playing at an elite level defensively and is a great leader. i don’t see any better defender in our conference for sure and in Nassau County.’’

Lawrence likes to attack by sending up some backs and that’s why senior right back Josesph Gonzalez has become so valuable off an All-County honorable mention. Unfortunately, Gonzalez’ start to the season is delayed as he recovers from an elbow to the eye in preseason that led to five stitches. “He’s dynamic in the right-back position - offensively and defensively,’ Lagasse said. 

Senior Brandon Moran-Flores is a crafty lefty center-midfielder.  “He’s very creative on the ball, especially with his left foot,’’ Lagasse said. “He has one of the better left foots in the county.’’

Meanwhile, senior striker Kevin Mendoza is off to a fast start with two goals in the Sunrise event. “He’s just a workhorse fighting for every ball,’’ Lagasse said. 

The player who controls the middle defensively is senior Alex Samayoa. He’s also known to start an offensive rush with his smartness and skill with the ball. 

Lawrence returns its goalie, junior Gabriel Rosales, who came out of nowhere last season to thrive. “He’s very athletic and has reflexes like a cat but we’re working on his inexperience,’’ Lagasse said. 

The most surprising player is freshman midfielder Diego Hinojosa, who was just called up after “really showing me he can be a stud at the varsity in a year or two,’’ Lagasse said. 

Many teammates have competed together for 11 years so Lawrence’s chemistry is top-notch. “We’re a possession-based team and really good at it,’’ Lagasse said. “That confuses teams.”