Here are NVL boys soccer team previews (all schools were invited to submit information):
Coach: Joe Bandurski Jr. (2nd season, 3-13)
Key returning players: Enzo Dos Santos, sr. striker/forward; Jonathon Vaccerla, sr. midfielder; Jacob Viacava, Jacob Viacava, so. centerback/goalie
Coach’s comments: “We are a young and very inexperienced team. We lost most of our senior leadership so this season we will focus on rebuilding the program and being competitive. We have a lot of young players that hopefully will develop enough chemistry to compete in most matches.”
Key returning players: Bekim Balidemaj, Sr. (All-Copper)
Comments: “The student athletes have been working hard and most importantly been having fun playing the game of soccer. The athletes’ skillset and mindset of the game has increased significantly as a team. The players are anxiously awaiting to take the field and face their opponents.”
Outlook: “I’m looking forward to the athletes performing at their full potential on the field. I’m predicting the players will play more competitively in the NVL and possibly reach the playoffs.”
Coach: John Teixeira (5th season, 56-9-8)
2021 record: 19-1-2 (NVL champions)
Key returning players: Nate Gabriel, Sr.; Sebastian DaSilva, Sr. (All-NVL Brass Division); Ryan Ditto, Sr.; Declan McGrath, Sr.; Aiden Hebb, Jr.; Landon Coelho, Jr. (All-NVL Brass Division); Marshall Meitla, Jr.; Eli Simoes, So.
Coach’s comments: “A new year with some new faces, but we have our expectations and standards year after year regardless of the number of players we lose.”
Outlook: “The league is competitive every year and I expect no different this season. There are always a few outliers who step up and make for some really exciting matches.”
Coach: Robert Likorama (4th season)
Key returning players: Jorge Mayancella, Leonardo Allonso, Patrick Pineda-Zegara, Bryan Syman, Lorenzo Bocachica.
Newcomers: Manuel Demiraj, Cristiano Oliveira, Enkel Shkembi
Coach’s comments: Last year, our team tried hard, but unfortunately as shown by the record, we didn’t do well For this year we will take all the positives from last year,as well as, carefully analyze the mistakes and use them to further advance our game this year. We will use that experience to learn from it and also further strengthen our team and strive for better results this season. With vigorous training and hard work, I am confident that our team will reach the goal this year.
Coach: Jose Sendra (1st season)
Key returning players: Pedro Crivella, Sr.; Arthur Baldon de Oliveira, Sr.; Dhruv Nimmagadda, Sr.; Aden Cruz, Jr.; Daniel Anderson, Jr.; Andy Nguyen, Jr.; Alex Oliveira, So.
Coach’s comments: “The team is coming together well. The seniors are providing solid leadership for the team. The team may struggle at the beginning as they try to find and learn their roles.”
Outlook: “Returning champions Holy Cross should be solid contenders along with perennial powerhouses Woodland and Watertown. You cannot count out teams like Seymour and Torrington either.”
Coach: Dan Bautista (4th season)
Key returning players: Matthew Dima, Sr. midfielder; Matthew Connan, Sr. defender; Ryan King, Sr. defender; Syed Messim, Sr. forward; Mason Pale, Jr. midfielder (All-Copper); Josh Bourdoulous, Jr. midfielder
Comments: “This year, our team is full of senior players where most have been on the varsity team since they were freshmen. We are excited for this season. This core has worked hard for the past three years and I know they feel their last together can be a special one. Our younger players are hungry to improve from last season and make a name for themselves among the older players.”
Outlook: “The NVL will always be a tough league to play in. I expect the top 6-8 teams to all be neck-and-neck this year.”
Coach: Aaron Pawluk (4th season, 17-16-6)
Key returning players: Brett Calabrese, Sr. midfielder; Leotrim Gashi, Sr. striker; Nathan DaCruz, Sr. striker; Kyle Orlando, Sr. defender; Justin Zwolinski, Sr. striker; John Douglass, Sr. defender; Peter Rosemberg, Sr. goalkeeper; Hudson Santos, Sr. midfielder
Coach’s comments: “A competitive hard-working bunch of student athletes with a mix of varsity level experience that are starting to come together as a true team.”
Outlook: Our team is looking to be competitive in every match we play. Looking forward to what this season has in store.”
Coach: Joe Campos (8th season, 44-30-8)
Key returning players: Michael Cipriano, Sr., Midfield/Defender (All-NVL); Jordan Conroy, Sr., Midfield; Jayden Rinaldini, Sr., defender; Wyatt Byrne, Jr., defender; James Naples, So., Forward; Nick Reiger, So., Midfield.
Coach’s comments: “We have a bunch of hard working players led by seniors, but our younger players will be out on the field early .Michael and Jordan are a couple of the best players in the league. Wyatt and Jayden combined with freshman Anthony Gagliardi will provide strong back line. James Naples is a scoring threat whenever he touches the ball.”
Outlook: “The NVL will have the usual teams at the top. How we develop as a team will determine where we end up. The goals are to qualify for the state and NVL tournaments.”
Coach: Michael Fritch (13th season, 115-87-11)
Key returning players: Ethan Stater (Sr., Back/Mid), Marco D’Addona (Sr., Mid, All-Division), Chase Gurtowsky (Sr., F), Zach Murelli (Sr., Mid), Robert Nelson (Sr., Back), Jacob Carlson (Sr., Back), Steven Peneranda (Jr., Forward), Ben Carlson (Jr – M/F)
Coach’s comments: “The boys are eager and excited for the upcoming season. While we are relatively young on experience, we have great senior leadership and we have set the goal of making and competing for an NVL championship, while at the same time qualifying for the state tournament. We look forward to a competitive season, and competing for an NVL Championship.”
Coach: Vitto Caliguiri (11th season)
Key returning players: Zach Polletta, sr. captain, forward; Eri Spaho, sr. captain, midfield; Jack Geise, sr. capt., midfield; Zach Warner, sr. forward; Kyle Zaccagnini, sr. midfield; Ben Schweyer, sr. defense; Nate LaMadeleine, sr. defense; Gavin Maton, sr. keeper; Luke Acuna, jr. midfield; Nick Santageli, jr. keeper; Dilon Mamudi, jr. midfield; Colin Krayeske, jr. forward; Owen Kulikauskas, jr. defense; Joe Sirica, jr. defense; Nick Mancini, jr. defense; Colin Barry, so. forward; Brandon Murtishi, so. defense; Brody Geise, so. midfield; David Perugini, so. midfield; Anthony Martone, so. midfield.
Coach’s comments: After losing in the finals of the NVL Tournament in PK and making a run to the semifinals of the CIAC tournament, Watertown heads into the season with a lot of fresh faces. Eight starters graduated but this year’s group still has a lot of talent. Led by seniors Polletta, Warner, Jack Geise, Spaho and Zaccagnini, Watertown still has experience and talent. Warner and Polletta will be faced with the task of leading the offense and scoring goals. The defense will feature three new starters with the lone returning starter, Kulikauskas, there is a great group of players in the back including Schweyer, LaMadeleine and freshman Gavin Lauer. This year’s team will feature some young talented players like Martone, Perugini, and Murtishi.
Coach: Dave Sylvester (3rd season, 24-13-8)
Key returning players: Jayvon Morais, sr.; Besjan Vako, sr.; Hector Cortez, sr.; Micah Chen, jr.; Lucas Figueiredo, jr.; Alex Figueiredo, jr.; Sergio Terolli, jr.; Silas Creaven, so.
Coach’s comments: “We have a nice core of returning players. We are looking for our seniors to step up and lead the team. The players are excited for the season, and we are looking forward to competing.”
Coach: John Alves (4th season, 7-31-5)
Key returning players: Joshua Colon, sr.; Jecson Villatoror, sr., capt., (All-NVL Brass Division); Ruben Navarro, sr., capt.; Joshua Jones, sr.
Coach’s comments: “Wilby looks forward to the challenges ahead, they are working hard on development and work ethic. They return with an understanding that success is measured in many ways. The Wildcats will continue with its core principles of accountability, resiliency and respect for the game and others.”
Outlook: “Wilby has eight returning seniors who are eager to start the season. They understand there will be some struggles with the historically dominant NVL teams, however they are eager learners and understand working with others as a team is a great opportunity to learn valuable life skills that go beyond the soccer field.”
Coach: Bryan Plona (18th season, 90-156-13)
Key returning players: Ryan Riviezzo, sr., D (top defender returning from knee surgery); Genci Seferi, sr., (All-NVL Iron Division, led the Eagles in scoring, assists and points); Karol Tawiah, sr. (team’s Top Offensive Award Winner in 2021); Albi Bylyku, sr., D; Besim Yucel, sr., D/M; Sitta Keita, sr., M/F; Justin Cardinale, jr. (All-NVL First Team, second on team in scoring); Quentin Outlaw, jr., D/M; Samuel Berninger, so., (211 saves, two shutouts in 2021).
Coach’s comments: “I’m extremely excited for the upcoming season. We return 8 starters from 2021 and get Ryan Riviezzo back after missing last season from knee surgery. We will have one of the top goalies in the NVL with Sam Berginger in net. Genci Seferi and Justin Cardinale return as two top players to watch in the NVL.”
Outlook: “The Eagles just missed out on the NVL tournament last season, however the Eagle’s gained valuable experience. The goal this season is to make it to both the NVL and CIAC tournaments.”
Coach: Kenan Collins (10th season, 7th at Woodland, 4th as head coach, 43-6-3).
Key returning players: Alex Farr, sr., capt. (All-NVL Iron Division).
Coach’s comments: “Woodland has a strong group of juniors, several of whom have been playing varsity since freshman year. Alex Farr, a four-year starter, will lead the lines alongside RJ Giampetruzzi. John Sizer offers strength, vision, and composure out of the back. Midfielders Matthew Villano and Aldin Jahja will look to pull the strings and control the tempo of the game. Liam Murrichio’s experience and versatility will be a great asset as he can do a job anywhere on the pitch. Sophomore Tanner Barrows, a two-year starter, will provide excellent service for Farr and Giampetruzzi. Despite graduating many seniors, there is quality all over the pitch.”
Outlook: “The season can be grueling at times given the jam-packed schedule, but these boys can achieve great things together.”
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