Boys Soccer Preview: Lakeland Hornets

Lakeland High School's boys varsity soccer team goes into this season with its usual high expectations.

"Every year I have been here—and it's my sixth year here—our goal is always to win the sectional finals," Lakeland coach Tim Hourahan said. "We lost twice in the finals. We want to be playing on that last game Nov. 4. I know we are only going to start one senior but we are not looking towards next year, we're looking towards Sept. 14 at Carmel. We want to get off on a good note with these young guys and we want to be playing our best  soccer at the end of the year."

If Lakeland wants to reach its goal of playing in the Section 1 Class A championship game and winning it, it will have to overcome the loss of one if its key players.

That player is senior midfielder, co-captain Robert Caffrey, who suffered an injury. That injury will leave him out of action until October, according to Hourahan.

"The injury was a hip flexor," Hourahan said. "We had a camp last week (Aug. 18) and he strained it pretty bad."

Fortunately for the Hornets, who finished 12-5-1 a year ago and reached the Class A quarterfinals where it lost to Somers 1-0, they have plenty of quality players in the midfield.

The midfield will consist of three sophomores who Hourahan says are Lakeland's best skilled soccer players.

"They are probably a year or two away from being really special," Hourahan said.

Making up this trio is wing Timmy O'Driscoll, a transfer from Kennedy Catholic, wing Patryk Seweryn and center-middie Gonzalo Prando, who the Hornets coach says is the best skilled soccer player on the team.

"They each have great vision. They are all great with the ball," Hourahan said. "They can run all day. Since they are sophomores they are not as big and physical and you know the game of soccer—it's about getting to 50-50 balls but if we can spread teams out and move the ball we'll be OK."

Because of Caffrey's injuries, Lakeland will probably change its formation until he returns.

"We're not going just to stick someone else in that spot, whether it's three forwards or four middies or whatever it's going to be," Hourahan said. "We have three legitimate middies. Caffrey was supposed to be the protector of the three young guys like the bigger strong lacrosse/hockey stud but he's not going to play until October so we will play a little bit differently than we would without him. We'll start with three middies and go from there."

Defensively the Hornets will have plenty of leadership. Junior co-captain Chris Monteferante will start for the third straight year at right back with senior Chris Jonas playing center back.

Sophomore Andrew Mitgang will play center back after manning the forward spot a year ago.

Hourahan said the fourth player on defense will be one of a group of JV kids that the staff is looking at.

Junior goalie Steven Reiche gives Lakeland someone who has a big presence in goal. His ability to drive the ball down the field to counter-attack or restart the play is great but Hourahan said that he needs to get a little more assertive as far as being a talker.

 "He was a sophomore starter last year so he was kind of reserved in his voice but now that he's a returning starter he just has to pick up the communication level with his defenders," Hourahan said. "He's very good in the air. He's very athletic, a big presence, he's 6-2, 6-3, he can throw the ball to midfield, he can kick it to the other box."

Starting at forward is junior Sebastian Marquez, who started all of Lakeland's 18 games a year ago. Marquez has the ability to make plays one-on-one.

"He's great with the ball with his feet," Hourahan said. "He's very athletic. He likes to take guys one-on-one. He's probably going to get double-teamed at times this year because he is our top forward so he needs to be a little bit more physical with the ball and not get pushed off it. His ability to go one-on-one against defenders and push the ball forward is his best attribute."

Junior Shane McDonald and sophomore Landy Lopez will look to play the other forward spot. McDonald is big, strong and athletic while Lopez was one of the top forwards on JV last year.

2010 Lakeland Schedule

Sept. 14 @ Carmel 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 15 Arlington 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 22 @ Mahopac 4:30 p.m.

Sept. 25 Yorktown 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 Panas 6 p.m.

Sept. 30 @ Putnam Valley 4: 30 p.m.

Oct. 2 Pearl River 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 4 Peekskill 6 p.m.

Oct. 6 @ Haldane 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 9 @ Hen Hud 5:30 p.m.

Oct 11 Lourdes 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 14 @ Panas 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 Putnam Valley 6 p.m.

Oct. 18 @ Peekskill 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 20 Haldane 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 22 Hen Hud 6:30 p.m.