After a rocky start to the 2012 mens soccer season, which saw an uncharacteristically poor win-loss record, player dissatisfaction and resignation, and the eventual dismissal of a new head coach, the defending BSAL champion Cougars appear to have righted the ship. The Cougars have brought their record to 5-3-5 with a recent wins over Encinal and Piedmont and a tie with Miramonte.
With the previous coach Kitamba “Ko” Douglas retiring, Benjy Toczynski moved up from JV to take over the varsity squad. The 2012 team, returning many players from the undefeated 2011 BSAL champions, started off this season with a disappointing record of 2 wins, 3 losses, and 4 ties.
Coach-player problems surfaced including the suspensions of starting players for key games that are seen to have contributed to the frustrating defeats. These problems escalated to the point where seniors Kian Ahmadi, Andre Alvarez, and Gabriel Borges were dismissed from the team.
Seniors Guicho Alonso and Romario Pena and juniors Felix Gonzalez and Kusha Miraftab chose to leave the team following their teammates’ dismissals.
Concerned players and parents approached coach Toczynski, athletic director Andrew Strawbridge and principal Ted Barone seeking a solution. After several meetings the decision was made just prior to winter break to have coach Ko Douglas return for the balance of the season, replacing Toczynski.
All players who were dismissed or quit have returned to the varsity squad.
Since the coaching change, the results have been positive, with a 3-0-1 record under Douglas’s direction.
“Practices have become more productive, and we are playing harder as a team while still having fun,” said senior Kian Ahmadi.
On last Thursday evening, the Cougars took advantage of an undermanned Encinal team, winning 6-0. Gabriel Borges and Felix Gonzalez each scored twice; Kusha Miraftab added a score on a header and junior Asitha Kaduwela scored once.
The Cougars next home game is against St. Patrick St. Vincent on Wednesday January 25.
