The Boys’ Soccer Team is off to a less than ideal start this year. Their 3-3 record in the section is a disappointment, but the players believe these losses aren’t indicative of the talent they possess on the field.

After a large senior class departed from the team last year, this year’s lineup is almost completely different. Chemistry, most likely, will be an ongoing issue and sometimes the high school competitive stage can get to a lot of players that don’t have the raw experience. Though most of the soccer players play club soccer, nothing compares to the thrill — and the pressure — of putting on the black and gold and competing for the NA faithful.

Senior midfielder Connor Kaczmarek is aware of the team’s relative inexperience but believes there is a way to fix the issue.

“I got some minutes last year, but it’s good to consistently play to improve and get comfortable with a setting different from travel.” Kaczmarek said.

Kaczmarek praised sophomore goalie Dante Accamando when taking into consideration a few breakout players for this season’s team.

“Dante has been very impressive for being a sophomore,” Kaczmarek said. “Anytime that you can make that jump to varsity that fast, it means you’re a legit player.”

Kaczmarek himself is expecting a turnaround for the team.

“I like our personnel,” he said. “We have talent everywhere. When we get good chemistry and start to win a few games in a row, we could really get hot and shock a lot of teams.”

Senior Brandon Marzula, another midfielder for the team, had similar responses.

“A lot of people play travel soccer, so we have plenty of experience. Once we start playing as a team more and not as individuals, a lot of things will start going our way,” he said. 

Like Kaczmarek, Marzula also had high praise for the sophomore goalie.

“Dante had a great game against Seneca Valley, a very tough opponent,” Marzula said. “He saved two breakaways and really kept the game close. I wasn’t sure how he was going to respond to the challenge of his first season, but he’s done a great job so far.”

Marzula knows that soccer is often a game of inches and even the best teams lose from time to time, but he remains convinced the team will hit its stride soon.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s a down year,” he said. “We’ve had chances to win every game this year. Soccer is a sport like that, and I can see us improving as the season continues.”