As the school year starts up again, we shift our focus to fall sports and thus, boys’ soccer. Coached by Nick Mangan and captained by Nate Kulish and Jared Rabina, the Tigers are looking to improve upon their 2024 campaign.
To kick off the season, Mamaroneck did just that. Fueled by goals from Emile Sullivan, Jordan Charalambous and Michael Zambrano, the Tigers posted a decisive 3-0 victory over Lakeland. According to sophomore and first year varsity soccer player Rin Nagaoka, Mamaroneck was able to be so dominant over Lakeland because of their “consistent defense and effort during practice.”
Following their first victory, the Tigers had yet another convincing win at home vs. Roy C. Ketcham. Led by more goals from Zambrano and Charalambous, the Tigers dominated Ketcham 6-1. Through two games, boys soccer has outscored their opponents 9-1, leading to an impressive goal differential of plus eight. Even in the early stages of the season, the team’s chemistry and communication have been clear strengths, as each players seems to know exactly where their teammates will be on the field. If they keep this up, they will solidify their standing as a powerhouse within Section 1.
As the season progresses, the players will surely fatigue, but Mamaroneck’s gritty and tight-knit culture will allow them to persist. Throughout practices, meetings and games, players and coaches constantly repeat the phrase “ALL IN,” proving that every member of the Mamaroneck soccer program is fully dedicated to the team. This has continued to be evident throughout the start of the season, but it will become even more obvious as the Tigers tackle future obstacles.
For the rest of the season, senior captain Nate Kulish hopes to “build on our success from the start of the season by re-establishing the Mamaroneck soccer culture.” He argues that “talent is never the issue at Mamaroneck. We had all the skill in the world last year, but we were never able to work together as a team. This year we have focused on attitude and discipline which has allowed us to buy into the system and have a ton of early success.”
Kulish is exactly right: half of winning is about attitude and energy which the Tigers have clearly brought early in the season.
What is for certain is that the sky is the limit for Mamaroneck soccer. Early in the season, the Tigers continue to look stronger than ever. If the team maintains this high level of play, they are bound to make some serious noise in Section 1.
