This was supposed to be a rebuilding season for the Duluth boys soccer team. Instead, the Wildcats won their first region championship in years, something not even their coach thought was a realistic goal.
"To be honest, it’s a very surprising year for me,” said Duluth coach Adel Mohsen, whose Wildcats host Grayson at 6:30 p.m., tonight in the opening round of the AAAAAA state soccer tournament.
The Wildcats won Region 7-AAAAAA, despite having an inexperienced goalkeeper, very few seniors and seven new starters. They did it with Mohsen’s aggressive offensive attack that is averaging 4.8 goals per match and features a pair of dynamic goal-scorers.
Senior attacking outside midfielders Carlos Delarosa and Alexander Garuba have combined for 31 goals. Delarosa, a four-year member of the varsity, leads the team with 19 goals. Garuba, who stepped away from academy level to play for his school his senior season, has been just as dangerous.
“We play a 4-3-3 system, which is more of an attacking-style of play,” Mohsen said. “With those two guys on the outside (Delarosa and Garuba), I know they have pace and they can finish … it’s a system that’s going to allow you to score a lot, but, at the same time, you’re going to have good defense, because you have less players in the midfield than the other team."
Duluth’s aggressive style has produced some dramatic comebacks. On April 17 in a rain storm at region-rival Meadowcreek, the Wildcats rallied for three second-half goals in a key 3-2 win, with junior Daniel Arnstein scoring the winner with a minute left.
While Mohsen entered the season knowing his team’s strength was on offense, he was concerned about his goalkeeping, after last year’s starter chose to not play his senior season. Mohsen turned to senior Giovanni Aruaz, who had only seen time at the junior varsity level.
“He’s helped us out,” Mohsen said of Aruaz. “Our defense has played well, but we’ve given up some goals and have had to outscore teams to win.”
Mohsen says his close-knit team will have to become even more focused in the state tournament, especially in tonight’s opening game against Grayson.
“Duluth’s record in the first round is not very good,” Mohsen added. “There’s no way Grayson is a fourth seed. We win region for the first time in a long time and we get rewarded with one of the toughest four seeds.”
St. Pius dominance: The St. Pius Golden Lions have won two consecutive state championships and four in the last six seasons. After a dominating regular season, they’re the favorite heading into this season’s AAAA state tournament as well. The Golden Lions went a perfect 17-0 during the regular season, allowing only two goals all year. Coach David O’Shea credits junior goalkeeper Jake Beyer for keeping the St. Pius back line well organized. St. Pius hosts Fayette County at 6:30 p.m., tonight in the first round.
Notes:
Cross Keys will host Carrollton at 5:30 p.m., tonight at Adams Stadium. The Indians have a trio of double-digit goal-scorers in junior Gilberto Ramos (16), Roberto Martinez (13) and Jose Padilla (12). … Westminster won the Region 4-AAA championship and will host Johnson, Augusta at 7:45 p.m. Friday. Coach Scott Snyder points to the leadership of Trey Blasingame as one of the reasons Westminster heads into the AAA state tournament as one of the teams to beat.
