Work in progress – Young Molloy squad falls short in day of missed opportunities

Molloy Coach Andy Kostel knew there would be frustrating performances like last Thursday's 1-0 loss to Fordham Prep at Alley Pond Park in Bellerose. Games that no matter the number of chances or corner kicks or point blank shots on goal, his Stanners would be unable to sneak any into net.
Nine of his starters from last fall - the ones who captured a CHSAA Class A city and state championship in 2004 and then reached the city final again last fall - are now playing Division I soccer.
&#8220It was a good year,” said Kostel, without a hint of nostalgia.
The top Stanner stars from those teams - Oscar Leis is at SUNY Stony Brook, Jorge Mora at NC State, for instance - have been replaced by many inexperienced upperclassmen in addition to five sophomores. Nevertheless, that does not worry Kostel; Molloy has relied on youngsters in previous years - championship years, in fact.
Kostel actually seems at peace with the situation, perhaps even a tad feisty. Different coaching is needed, he admits, evidenced by his frequent yelling and cajoling and the face-to-face meetings with his starters when he subbed one of them out.
The Stanners now have to rely on their play at midfield to a greater extent, the 50-50 balls now being the top priority. &#8220Other teams in the past were able to skill themselves above other teams, so there weren't as many 50-50's,” Kostel said. &#8220This team has to win 50-50 [balls].”
Because there are less playmakers on the pitch, there will be days the Stanners do win the battle at midfield, when they dominate the 50-50 balls, and still lose, as was the case against Fordham Prep. Molloy outplayed their Bronx rivals, but could not capitalize on their many chances.
But for all the miscues - the mishit shots from the top of the box; the extended dribbling, when the forwards should have been already sent; the lackadaisical defense that allowed the Rams' Delfim Ferreira to score the game's lone tally on a beautifully struck turn to the left corner from 15 yards out; the lack of communication on attacks - Kostel saw a rainbow at the end of this particular storm. You never want to lose, he maintained, but the loss, their first in league play, could help.
&#8220That's the first thing my assistant coach said, ‘this is a good loss,' ” he said. &#8220It depends how the kids take it. If the kids take it in the right manner, which I think this team does, we will [be okay].”
By their answers afterwards, the Stanners seem to be handling the setback the way the coach hoped. &#8220I think we're going to be fine,” senior Frank Sadicario said. &#8220We lost; we should've won the game. We didn't put some chances away, but we'll remember this, work harder at practice.”
The inexperience, Kostel said, played a part as the game progressed, as Molloy pushed for the equalizer, but tightened up as the chances came and went. &#8220I was
getting nervous, because I was going for a goal and it wasn't happening,” admitted sophomore striker Akil Howard. &#8220I started getting a bit frustrated.”
Clearly the aggressor early on, the Stanners failed to score on several makeable chances, including Howard going wide on a strike from the top of the box in the first minute, and when Ferreira netted the eventual game-winner in the 21st minute, the momentum shifted. &#8220In the beginning, we had fire a little bit, but not scoring [early] made us lose,” Howard said.
Junior Brian Testa and sophomore Andrew Rodriguez each had opportunities off corner kicks for Molloy (1-1-2), but rushed them. Brian Kelleher's bullet just went over the crossbar early in the second half, and Sadicario, off a feed from Howard, was unable to control his first touch in space just outside the box, the ball harmlessly rolling to the Fordham Prep (2-0-1) goalkeeper. &#8220We had numerous chances,” Sadicario lamented. &#8220We should've put this game away early. But we didn't and that's about it.”