The road to the playoffs begins now.
That’s the mindset of Riverhead’s boys soccer coach Lamine Traore and it’s never changed. This man is committed.
You’d have to dig deep into the archives to find out when the last time Riverhead had a soccer team in the playoffs but Traore doesn’t care. He’s building something from the ground up.
Coming off one of the most promising years in recent history in which the Blue Waves narrowly missed the playoffs with a 6-7-1 record, Traore knows this year should be the year the streak of losing ends.
“These kids can do it,” Traore said. “We have most of our guys returning.”
And with the addition of some younger guys who thrived in JV ball last year, there’s no reason to doubt success. Traore’s constantly preaching the same concept that got him to where he is now: “Believe.”
Midway through July, when a field actually opened up for Traore to use, he began a series of clinics on Monday and Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.
“The first couple of clinics were for the younger guys,” Traore said. “JV and middle school kids. I always like to see what’s coming up. I’ll bring up a kid from middle school if he’s good enough.”
It’s a testament to dedication. You can’t micromanage a soccer program. It takes hand-on work from the seedling to the blossomed product.
Even though Traore doesn’t expect many varsity players to show until early to mid August because of work and other travel team commitments, some have been there from the get-go. Among those in attendance on Friday were goalkeeper Ryan Diresta, striker Karol Birycki and defenseman Noah Markewitz.
Diresta might as well have opened his own clinic based on his performance in the three-team scrimmage at the end of practice. Flying left and right, he deflected any chance of potential goals, even at point-blank range; prompting assistant coach Andrew Aleksandrowicz to say: “Is there something that this kid doesn’t stop?”
There were enough in attendance for three teams to be assembled so one team was on the sideline until a goal was surrendered or badly missed on either side. When an easy opportunity to score a goal was missed, Traore would summon the offending team to the sideline.
But Traore never missed an opportunity to applaud plays when they happened. He often recognized Birycki’s renewed sense of attacking aggression, something he lacked last year. “Yes, Karol! That’s it!” echoed through the field on numerous occasions.
As soon as the rest of the varsity players take their places on the practice field, the real grind will begin.
“This team has the potential, you know,” Traore said. “We just need to get them all together.”
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