The St. Peter’s Prep soccer team was believed to be undergoing a rebuilding year in 2001, but something magical happened. The Marauders started winning. More importantly, they didn’t allow goals, rolling to a totally unexpected 13-2-2 record.
The Marauders won nine straight matches during one stretch last year, winning eight of those via shutout. It was a stretch of defensive prowess that is not regularly seen in high school soccer. The rebuilding tag was scrapped, as the stingy Marauders rolled to the HCIAA regular season championship.
However, there was something missing – namely the overall league crown. The title was snatched away in the playoff championship game, won by archrival Hudson Catholic, 1-0, in a game played in a brutal windstorm, a game where the Marauders could never get it going.
"Naturally, they can’t forget that," said St. Peter’s Prep head coach John Irvine, who began his 13th season as the Marauders’ head coach last week. "You can’t brood over that loss, but it’s in their heads. They remember. That loss killed them."
But a new year began last week, so it was time to put the pain of last year’s setback on the backburner and time to concentrate on the season ahead.
"I think we have to get on with things," Irvine said. "We were pretty cleaned out defensively by graduation, so we have to get our new players in and worry about where they fit in."
Whether that uncertainty had anything to do with the 2-1 loss the Marauders suffered in their season opener against Memorial Monday remains to be seen. But the resilient Marauders should be right in the mix as a contender once the smoke clears come the middle of November.
"I feel pretty good about where we are as a team," Irvine said. "But I bet a lot of teams in the league feel the same way, that they can contend as well. It should be interesting."
While the Marauders lost a lot of their defensive back line to graduation, they are fortunate to have leading scorer Drew Buzzio returning. The senior forward had nine goals and 12 assists last season, earning All-Hudson Reporter honors. Seven of Buzzio’s goals were game-winning tallies, so he definitely had the ability to score in the clutch.
"Drew plays year round with some of the best players in the state," Irvine said. "We haven’t had a pure scorer like him since Matt Foster-Moore [now playing at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia]. I can’t see why he can’t score 20 goals this year."
Jesse Luis, another senior forward, chipped in with eight goals a year ago. Buzzio and Luis comprise one of the most dangerous front lines in the area.
"They played virtually every minute for us last year," Irvine said. "We depend a lot on them."
Junior Ben Tamberella moves in as the starting goalkeeper. He played junior varsity last season and had four shutouts on that level.
"Ben also played one game with the varsity as a freshman and he shut out Union Hill," Irvine said. "He’s been playing well for us."
The defensive back line features junior sweeper Mike Rooney, senior right fullback Rob Komorowski, sophomore stopper Matt Cevallos and junior left fullback Todd Schild. Standout wrestler John Louf, a senior, will also see time as a defender.
The Marauders welcome back two starters from the midfield, namely junior Pat Mellea, a three-year starter, and senior Chris Caulfield. Junior Paul Ascencio, the leading scorer on the JV level last year, senior Marco Ambrosio, and senior Joe Danatzko will all see time in the midfield.
"We’re very deep in the midfield," Irvine said. "We’ll be able to keep guys fresh by using them all. We don’t usually substitute too often, so this is a luxury. And the kids have a good attitude about it."
Irvine said that the Marauders started off the season in "tremendous shape," so stamina and fatigue should not be a factor this season. Despite the loss, count on the Marauders to be right in the thick of things in what shapes up to be a very competitive race in the HCIAA. – Jim Hague