2009 Preview: Prospect

By Gary Larsen

This year's Knights feature eight varsity returnees coming off of an eight-win season last year, but all signs point to Prospect having an excellent season in 2009.

And the key figures to be a stronger desire to fiire on net.

“The thing we didn’t do well last year was penetrate in the offensive third and take shots,” said Prospect coach Kurt Trenkle. 

“If our forwards aren’t doing that, our midfielders end up just holding it forever and not doing anything. That’s the difference between last year and this year.”

Senior Francisco Nunez and sophomores Patryk Ruta, and Richard Lenke are all capable of causing fits in the attacking third.

Nunez and Lenke are quick and dangerous while Ruta is a big, skilled forward with a nose for the net. Junior forwards Mario Morales and and Sylvestre Grimaldo will also be expected to contribute in 2009.

With the work and creativity put in at midfield by Sam Slusher, Brayhan Nunez, Mike Stankiewicz, Will Hall, Ray LaTourette and Tyler Bengsten, the Knights' possession game could give teams fits this season.

"Our strength is possession, but we now have scorers who have matured so we should be able to attack the final third regularly," Trenkle said. "Our wing midfielders are creative, and the team has a better commitment to getting behind the ball. Sam Slusher and Michael Stankiewicz could have breakout years in the central midfield."

The back line features a rock-solid central defender in senior Kyle Mataloni, and core of solid juniors that includes Mike Eggert, David Spudic, Victor La Porte, Michael Hamman, and Anthony Hasto.

The Knights love the possession game, have a bevy of dangerous forwards, a solid back line and a senior in Jim Brault that has been aggressive, fearless, and steady in net in posting three shutouts to start the season. Junior Jeff Geldmeyer and sophomore Brad Reibel give Trenkle another pair of keepers in the fold.

The Knights won a summer league title at Lake Park in the preseason, topping MSL rival Conant 3-0. They won a pair of low-scoring games against Maine East and Taft to start the season before putting 10 goals on the scoreboard in their next two wins over Ridgewood and another MSL rival in Elk Grove.

“Confidence was a huge thing after the summer tournament," Slusher said. "To beat a solid team like Conant 3-0 is always a big thing. We struggled with confidence last year because we knew we had a good team, but we didn’t connect.”

That connection seems to be in place this season.

“We all have one goal, and that’s to win,” Ruta said. “Everybody is working really hard and that’s what I like about this team.”

“We’ve been playing against each other since sixth grade on different club teams,” Stankiewicz said. “Now we’re back in high school and we’ve been thinking about this all the time. We’re one team right now.”

2009 Schedule

2009 Roster