SOMERS, N.Y. - With Brian Lanzetta moving over to Somers girls soccer, Robert Carreira has taken the reins of the boys’ program. The new head coach admits he’s a mix of excitement and nerves, but he knows he’s not in it alone.
“There are a lot of leaders on this team,” said the former JV coach. “And they’re ready to be guides who I can lean on as a first year head coach.”
A former Somers goalie himself, Carreira freely acknowledges his bias.
“The goalie is the most important position,” said the Tusker.
Inside the box, that responsibility falls on Nick Chao, who will be tasked with carrying out Carreira’s vision.
“You need to communicate constantly,” Chao said.
A club league veteran, Chao is already comfortable with that role, and Carreira hopes it spreads throughout the team.
“I want that to trickle down to everyone,” said the 2011 grad.
This season, though, Somers faces the challenge of replacing eight graduated starters.
“It’s really anyone’s team this year,” Carreira explained.
The good news is that three key starters return, beginning with Harper Ritson.
“He’s an absolute creative machine,” Carreira said.
In the midfield, Connor Sheldon and Joe Bojaj add strength and variety. Carreira described them as “a bull in the middle” and “an absolute menace,” respectively.
Also back is Trevor Keimig, expected to make an immediate impact.
“Very fast and quick,” said Carreira. “He’s got a great shot.”
Two seniors also return with valuable experience. “Randy Contreras and Nick Goncalves are returning as two key players from last year,” Carreira said.
New talent will play a big role as well. Carreira pointed to four players moving up from JV—Benny Baran, Milan Sath, Gus Boniello, and Ryan Smith. “We are looking for them to make a huge impact,” he said.
As Carreira settles into his first season as head coach, he knows the program’s foundation starts with defense. “We have a foundation to keep a lot of clean sheets, so we’ll be in good shape,” he concluded.
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