By Joseph Staszewski
Christ the King has set the bar a little higher and rightfully so.
The Royals boys’ soccer team has been one of the city’s fastest improving programs over the last four years playing at the highest level of the CHSAA soccer league. CK reached the semifinals two the last three years, but this season’s team gives it the best shot to compete for an intersectional title.
“This is the year,” first-year head coach Michael Cognato said of his veteran group. “This is your senior year. This is your moment and there is no excuse at this point.”
Cognato was an assistant for three years under former head coach Ovid Cusu, who was responsible for getting the program to this point. Cognato was able to maintain continuity with Cusu shifting his focus coaching with the B.W. Gottschee club soccer organization. He has the Royals in position to achieve its goals.
“It helped chemistry wise,” senior midfielder J.C. Obgreon said of Cognato taking over. “Nothing has changed.”
Christ the King already owns a win over St. Francis Prep. It has tied both its meetings with Archbishop Molloy after letting a 2-0 lead get away in the club’s most recent matchup. The Royals and Stepinac are the only teams to earn a point against title favorite Fordham Prep. CK has lost just once since dropping its league opener to St. Francis Prep. Christ the King finished second in Brooklyn/Queens“In history before playing against Molloy, a 2-0 lead was near impossible,” Cognato said. “We have worked the program to be the caliber to be able to take a 2-0 lead without hesitating.”
This is a senior-laden group that’s built chemistry with each other on its way up the ranks both in CK and playing together in the offseason. Christ the King has stars in the midfield with Obregon and fellow captain John Nunez. Andy Munoz is a proven scorer. Chris Cabrera is a force on defense and Marko Urosevic is one of the league’s top keepers.
“We are one unit,” Obregon said. “There are no individuals on the team. We all win together. We all lose together and we all draw together.”
This group has proven it can compete with and beat the top teams in the CHSAA It knows how to win and expects to win each time it takes the field. It is just a matter of doing it in post season.
“At this point they have played varsity together for two, three years mostly,” Cognato said. “This is their time.”
