Fall Sports Preview: Boys' Soccer Looks to Senior Leadership

With the first day of the school year just a week and change away, most students in Hopatcong are spending the last precious days of summer vacation trying to relax as much as possible before the bell rings and it's time to hit the books.

Unless you're the Hopatcong Chiefs boys varsity soccer team, of course. Then you're spending those last days of freedom with three team practices a day. [Ouch.]

The Chiefs went deep in the 2009 season. After qualifying for the state playoffs with a 10-8 record, they made the semifinals, eventually falling to Westwood.

This year, however, Brian Carr will take over as head coach. Carr, a graduate from York College [Penn.], was an assistant coach for a high school soccer team near his college during his senior year. This year will mark the first season he's been a head coach at this level.

Roger Jones was an assistant coach for the Chiefs last year and will serve the same position this year. He'll also be the junior varsity team's head coach.

Jones gave some insight into what made the Chiefs successful last season.

"We just had good talent," Jones said. "We had a strong senior class and a strong supporting class."

The team will look a little different this season. The Chiefs lost five players to graduation, so there will be an opportunity for players on last year's JV squad, or even freshmen, to make varsity this season.

Carr had an interesting answer for what he believed the Chiefs biggest strength would be this season. "I would say our senior leadership," Carr said.

The senior leadership that Carr is talking about was quite apparent in a recent practice. The players were definitely working hard, no matter that it was their third practice of the day. Even more noticeable were the older players commending their teammates on a good play, and encouraging the younger players when they would make a mistake.

When asked if there was a certain player that Carr was expecting a big year out of, Carr said, "I expect a good year out of all of my players." He did mention senior goaltender Dan Marino.

"He's an excellent player," Carr said. Marino made some impressive saves during a scrimmage drill in the practice. He also is further evidence that goaltenders are a bit quirky, as his long, shaggy hair is currently bleach blonde, standing out quite easily when in a crowd of his teammates.

Carr wouldn't commit to any long-term goals when it came to the Chiefs' season. "It's too early," Carr said. "We're going to push hard, work hard every day. We're going to do the best we possibly can."

The Chiefs' first game of the season will come on Sept. 11 at Kinnelon High School at 12:30 p.m. If you can't make it, the Chiefs' first home game of the year will take place on two days later at home against Butler at 4 p.m.