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09/12/2022 11:40 AMJacob Callahan inherited a young Yellowjackets’ roster as he entered his first season as head coach of the East Haven boys’ soccer team. However, with such a youthful squad, Callahan said that this year’s Easties are hungry and eager to improve with an eye toward qualifying for the postseason.
East Haven opened the 2022 campaign by playing a pair of games last week. The Yellowjackets took a 3-1 loss at Branford on Sept. 8 before losing to Platt Tech by a 5-3 score in a home game the next day.
Freshman Milton Jimenez scored the Yellowjackets’ goal against Branford and then netted another goal in the Platt Tech matchup. Junior captain Marvin Cardenas scored 2 goals for East Haven in the team’s game versus Platt Tech.
Despite the two losses, Coach Callahan was impressed with how the Yellowjackets competed during the first week of their season. Callahan understands that there is a lesson to be learned with every contest. Callahan is hoping that the Easties will be able to build off what happened last week and use the experience to grow together as a team.
“Overall, I thought we performed pretty well. There was a lot for us to take from them,” Callahan said. “We lost 3-1 to Branford, but we were learning more and more about our identity. We lost 5-3 to Platt Tech. We just made a few mistakes. There’s a lesson in every game, win or lose. We just have to learn that lessons improve ourselves as players and as a team and move on.”
Callahan was pleased with East Haven’s turnout as he entered his first year as head coach. While the Easties might be young, Callahan said that his players battled hard during the preseason and came into the regular season ready to compete.
“It was great. We had great turnout. We were conditioning four days a week with between 15 to 20 guys,” said Callahan. “They were really putting the work in. I’m proud of them.”
Callahan wants the Yellowjackets to play to their strengths on the field this season. This includes good ball movement and getting the ball into open space. The Easties are looking to keep the field tight, so that there will always a player to pass to.
Senior captain Nate Rivera is helping keep East Haven in formation as he leads the team alongside junior captains Marvin Cardenas and Dom Rivera. Coach Callahan had his players vote on who they wanted to be the captains. Candidates volunteered and then give speeches on why they should fill the role. The three captains were the three chosen by East Haven’s players in a decision that had Callahan’s full support.
“These were the three that they chose. They were the three that I also would have chosen,” Callahan said. “They are role models on and off the field, which is really important for a captain. They show up to every practice, they’re giving their all, they’re supporting the younger kids through their development. I couldn’t be more happy with the three that the team chose.”
Cardenas is one of East Haven’s leaders on offense at the center midfield position. Senior Christofher Torres plays next to Cardenas at center midfield. Last season, Torres earned All-SCC Second Team accolades for the Yellowjackets.
Joining Cardenas and Torres on the attack are East Haven’s striker duo of sophomore Logan Mendez and Milton Jimenez. While the Yellowjackets strikers might be younger than a lot of their opponents, Coach Callahan said that Mendez and Jimenez have earned their spots and form a strong tandem.
Dom Rivera is the leader of East Haven’s midfield. He plays next to junior Freddy Lucero and freshman Matteus Ponte in the middle of the pitch. Nate Rivera is the team’s “rock in the middle” on defense. Callahan said the senior always keeps everyone involved and makes sure that all of his teammates have their heads held high. Junior Greg Vera is serving as East Haven’s starting goalkeeper.
East Haven’s roster is filled with young players all across the field, but Callahan feels that has been a blessing for the Yellowjackets. As the Easties demonstrate that they’re ready to compete this season, Callahan believes that all of that youth has the program’s momentum moving in a positive direction.
“I have two seniors, seven juniors, and the rest of our team is sophomores and freshmen. I like to see that they’re hungry,” said Callahan. “They’re coming out, and they’re willing to learn. It makes me excited for future years.”
Callahan has been coaching soccer for seven years, having previously served as the head coach at Joseph Melillo Middle School and an assistant coach with the Yellowjackets. When he stepped into his role as head coach at the high school, Callahan told this year’s team that it was the best squad he’s ever coached.
Coach Callahan said that the Easties have all the talent and potential to reach the postseason this year. In order to get there, Callahan knows that his players must be ready to work and prepared to play their hardest every single time they step on the pitch.
“They just need to put their heads down and keep their eyes on the prize. Focus on that end goal. Go into every game thinking that is the game that will decide it for us,” Callahan said. “They have the mentality. They have the skill. It’s just a matter of putting it all together.”
The East Haven boys’ soccer team’s varsity roster for the 2022 season features senior captain Nate Rivera; senior Cristofher Torres; junior captains Dom Rivera and Marvin Cardenas; juniors Greg Vera, Freddy Lucero, Jack Castillo, Brad Molina, and Eric Segovia; sophomores Frank Cabrera, Gustavo Flores-Soto, Nicholas Sanchez, George Orellana, and Logan Mendez; and freshmen Jared Castillo, Chris Lucero, Milton Jimenez, and Matteus Ponte.
Head Coach Jacob Callahan is joined by Assistant Coach Connor Koziatek, who was a senior captain for East Haven during Callahan’s first year as an assistant in the program.