Season Preview: Briarcliff HS Boys Soccer

Hopefully 's boys soccer team enjoys being in the spotlight, it certainly will be as it travels to Valhalla Wednesday in the opening round of the Mount Pleasant Cup to be televised by MSG Varsity.

The consolation and finals will be 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 10.

The game against Valhalla will be televised live on MSG Varsity’s website and will be shown the next day, Sept. 8, at 7:30 p.m. on its cable channel.

“MSG Varsity is really stepping up for varsity soccer,” Coach Brandon Beck said. “It will be a special experience for our players. It’s just a great way to kick off the season. The kids are really excited about that opportunity.”

One of those kids excited about that opportunity is senior goalie Dan Greenberg.

“I have never been on a bigger stage than that before, though I have played my share of big games,” Greenberg said. “It’s going to be a cool atmosphere to start the season in. We have been working all year for this.”

Greenberg and his teammates are coming off a season where it went 8-7-2 and as the No. 11 seed upset No. 6 Albertus Magnus in the opening round of the Section 1 Class B Tournament before losing to North Salem in the quarterfinals.

Greenberg is one of the Bears Beck expects a lot of big things from this fall.

“He’s tough, he’s confident, he’s been in training in the offseason over the past several years for this position,” Beck said. “He’s technically got all the elements there. He’s also just very vocal. He’s someone who I can count on to lead the team through the back of the field.”

Senior Yaron Rubin is another Bear who will play a big role as a defender/midfielder.

“He’s one of the most technically and tactically skilled players on the team,” Beck said. “He’s got a tremendous amount of soccer knowledge. He’s going to be a guy we want to give the ball a lot too.”

Another senior defender/midfielder Lou Greco, a left-footed player, gives Briarcliff someone who is really quick, versatile and has technical ability.

“He’s just like the energizer bunny,” Beck said. “He just plays game after game after game, minute after minute after minute. Most importantly, he’s not afraid to take people on. He also has a very good touch so he is dangerous from many different areas on the field.”

Senior center-midfielder TK Maeda will provide the Bears a physical presence at midfield.

“He has a nice strong upper-body who will be difficult for the opposition to win 50-50 battles from,” Beck said.

Junior defensive midfielder/forward Joe Ventura is an aggressive player, who is fearless.

“Last year in the sectional game against Albertus Magnus, he went up for a header and actually ended up getting a large gash on his forehead and was taken out by the ambulance,” Beck said. “He’s just that kind of player. He’s not afraid to throw his body on the line."

Beck continued, “That’s the kind of forward we want to have on our team. He’s also very smart in the middle of the field defensively as well. He is able to attract some of the stronger attackers in the league.”

Senior defensive midfielder Jesse Korzen is one of the Bears’ most vocal players and one of its key team leaders.

“He’s the most fit player on the team currently,” Beck said. “He’s a very strong, physical presence on the field. He is very aggressive and has great leadership capabilities. He’s extremely able to communicate and organize back there. He’s just a physical threat.”

As a team, Beck thinks his squad will be a force in Class B this year.

“I think we are a very versatile team,” Beck said. “We’ll be a very difficult team to beat for sure. These players are extremely fit, they have worked extremely hard. They really fear nothing. All that I have thrown at them from a fitness prospective they have accomplished and wanted more. There is a very strong senior group, of 13 seniors, this year. They will carry this team a long way.”

Other important returning players along with the above are Chris Hahn, Sam Lonsdale, Arthur Kaufman, Juan Sanchez, Aaron Egol, Alan Neider and Brian Wall.

Sam Hahn, Marco Christiano, Drew Shapiro, Max Gomez, John Alecci, Kyle Richie, Nick Feuer, Dan Jablansky and Jon Weiner are the Bears key newcomers.

Sophomore forward Jon Cabeca was supposed to play a key role this year but an ACL injury has knocked him out for the season.

The Bears open their season at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7 in Valhalla at the Mount Pleasant Cup.