Why the HSMSE boys varsity soccer team fell short of the playoffs

HSMSE Boys' Soccer Team / Mateo Galeano

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering boys’ varsity soccer team put up a great fight during the 2013 season, just missing the playoffs. Although the team faced many challenges, they had a successful season. A major hardship for the team was finding players to fill in for the seniors who graduated.

“We’ve lost a lot of spots like Raven [Roberson] and Harry [Cummins] and Jeremy [Hirschberg],” senior Kofi Kordie said.

Having to fill the positions of six starters, the team had to recover quickly for the season. The teams’ collaboration improved from last year, using more teamwork than in past years.

“I think as a team, they shared the ball a lot better,” said coach Nicholas Diunte.

 Replacing players was not the only struggle for the team, they were bit by the injury bug.

“We had a lot of difficulty replacing players that were injured throughout the season,” Diunte said.

Another challenge this season was having players at new positions. Many of the boys played in positions that they had never played before. Much of the defense was rearranged due to graduation. Kordie went from playing an offensive position to a defensive position. Sophomore, Alexei Ohotin, not having much previous experience in goal, pursued a new position as goalie.

"If the team needs me in goal because the loss of seniors, I’m happy to play that,” Ohotin said.

The team has also taken into consideration what is necessary to reach the playoffs next year. This season was a learning experience that will help strengthen the team for next years’ season.

“It’s better to lose trying than to lose giving up,” junior co-captain Steven Limeta said.

Written by: Asimina Hamakiotes & Harry Smith

The replacements

Spencer Sharp / Sara Louie

The High School for Math, Science, and Engineering boys’ volleyball team is in a tough spot because of their top players graduating. The Dragons must now look to their current juniors to take their place next year and continue the teams’ success. Junior setter Spencer Sharp and junior outside hitter/defensive specialist Kofi Kordie are among these prospects.

Seniors Ardit Piroli and Jeremy Wain-Hirschberg led the team to a 7-5 season, taking them to the playoffs for the second straight year. This is the first time the Dragons have made the playoffs in back to back seasons in school history.

The Dragons’ hopes for a solid setter directed them toward Sharp. The accurate passes he contributed as the main setter were key to the team’s overall success.

“I think Spencer’s decision making as a setter will improve and that will come from more volleyball that he will play,” said coach Nick Diunte.

Kofi Kordie / Sara Louie

Kordie, a rookie to the team, will be a valuable asset next season. In his first game, he was thrust into a starting role due to complications with the availability of some of the starters.

“This was my first year playing and I had to learn very quickly,” said Kordie.

Improvement must not only come from these two if the Dragons want to enter the playoffs again next year. Other athletes who saw respectable playing time will have to harvest more of their abilities for their inevitable increased use.

“I think there is going to be more playing time for Austin Han as well and then we have to hope we get a few freshmen come in or maybe a sophomore that's in the school that wants to play that we can develop because we are losing four very talented and skilled seniors,” said Diunte.

These graduating seniors will create big gaps on the court for the athletes who will start next year. With prospects like Sharp and Kordie, the team has the capability to continue their playoff appearance streak; however, there still remains a need for a strong set of rookies.

Contributed by Velid Mulic and Kian Zadeh

Well played Dragons!

HSMSE Volleyball Team

During the volleyball match between the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering, and Bronx Science's B- team on March 21, 2012, HSMSE came out on top winning all three sets. After being down by seven points at the start of the first set, the team picked it up and never looked back from that point.

Jeremy Wain-Hirschberg, setter of HSMSE, played a vital role in the victory. His athletic and acrobatic diving saves helped the team win all three sets. "I think our team played well, we had lots of mistakes we need to improve on, but it was a good game," said Wain-Hirschberg after the game. "No play is impossible on our team."