By Jason Bernstein / Jersey Journal
Plenty of coaches would look at the prospects of replacing 12 seniors — including the program’s career scoring leader and recent New York Red Bulls signee, Omar Sowe — to graduation as a daunting, if not impossible task. Harrison coach Mike Rusek, however, views it as a fresh start.
That fresh start has marked a rejuvenation for Rusek and his brother John as they enter their 20th season together at Harrison. It also marks — they hope — of a return to a more balanced scoring attack, a staple of the Blue Tide at their peak.
“It’s always good when you get a rejuvenation from a new group,” said Rusek. “It’s been a good year with a good group of young kids and a lot of new faces. I think it’s been kind of rejuvenating.
“I felt the past two years we relied offensively on pretty much only Omar. I’m hoping this year maybe we’re able to spread the goals out more, trying to get multiple people getting multiple goals. We’re always at our best when we have four or five guys that can score and get double-digits by November.”
Rusek knows that no one person can create the scoring void of Sowe, who had 35 goals last season to lead Harrison to a 19-5 record and trips to the Hudson County and North 2, Group 2 finals. Instead, it will be a collection of young players, many in new positions, who will be asked to pick up the slack.
Omar’s younger brother, Mustapha will perhaps be most responsible for replacing the lost offensive production. A three-year starter, Mustapha had two goals and three assists as an outside midfielder last season. This year, he moves into more of an attacking midfield spot where his speed has allowed him to create havoc uptop in the preseason.
Steven Espinoza, who had 10 assists last season, and Ederson La Torre, who can be a big, physical presence in the center, have also moved up top to help fill the offensive void.
“They were grunts last year. Guys who did a lot of the dirty work,” Rusek said. “Ederson was a center defender, Mustapha was on the outside coming out of the defensive end and Steven was a working midfielder. Hopefully all three embrace the responsibility of getting some goals for us.”
Two proven scorers that return for the Blue Tide is attacking midfielder Jairo Araujo, who had 15 goals and 15 assists as a junior, and senior forward Allan De Melo, who had 12 goals with seven assists.
Sophomore Enzo Diaz takes over as an outside midfielder and Joao Toscano will be a key contributor as a defensive midfielder. Others, who will provide depth at midfield are Brando Moreno, Dylan Husenovicz and Felipe Fernandes. Kamik Rozko, Gabriel Abreu and Enrique Alvarez are also sources of added depth at forward.
Junior Ronald Carillo is a returning starter at center back and is expected to anchor a young defense with with Toscano and outside back Dylan Leon. They’ll be joined on the back line with Iker Leon, Shane Abraham and Kyle Ferreira.
The goalkeeper spot remains an open competition with Jeffrey Fernandez, Emiliano Torres, Bryan Ylescas and Chris Alvarado all vying for time between the pipes.
Harrison opens its season on Friday, Sep. 6 against in-county foe Secaucus. The schedule is highlighted by an Oct. 5 clash with St. Peter’s Prep at Red Bull Arena at 2 p.m. Harrison will face division rival Dwight-Englewood on Sep. 20 at home and Oct. 18 at Dwight-Englewood.
