Wednesday May 23rd, 2001 edition of The Mirror. (posted on the Voyageurs Soccer Talk message board).
North
York Mirror: North York Astros gear up for winning season
by DJT
By MATT ROSS Special to The Mirror
Minor improvements by the
North York Astros during the 2000 campaign meant the squad didn't have to
undergo any major revisions for this year.
Although the club managed
only three wins and four draws in 20 games in their third season in the Canadian
Professional Soccer League (CPSL), North York finished with the three wins over
their last eight matches.
Unlike the disaster resembling 1999 with just
two victories, Astros general manager Bruno Ierullo's job was much easier this
winter.
Two-thirds of the team return ready for the season's kick-off
this Sunday in Richmond Hill. This contrasts sharply with the purge Ierullo
committed in preparation for last year when only one active player remained on
the roster from 1999.
The team's hope is the continuity that has
developed will translate into more success in the standings.
"Three wins
and a draw, that's what we're gunning for," Ierullo piped, referring to the
team's goal after the opening four games.
Lofty ambitions indeed
considering the Astros have Croatia and St. Catharines on the home schedule in
the opening month, two squads finishing in the CPSL's top three last season. In
2000, North York eked out two scoreless ties while dropping six other contests
versus this pair.
However, with the significant majority of the team
having one year of experience together plus an abundant exhibition calendar
during the past five weeks, there is room for Astro optimism.
One of the
significant changes has been coach Tony LaFerrara, who replaces Rafael Carbajal
after two seasons. Guiding London City to a playoff berth in 1999, LaFerrara
spent last year with the Astros developing stronger contacts with youth soccer
in the North York. Ierullo believes LaFerrara is ready to resume field
responsibilities with some of the players he's brought to the club.
"Rafael had two years to work with the team and with Tony we can achieve
a little bit more. Besides, we needed to get a fresh face."
Captain and
ninth-year North Yorker Alex Nardi returns and has seen the developments already
in the pre-season. With familiarity, he said, brings progress, something he
hasn't seen in the past three years during the team's frequent changes.
"With the number of players that have been here early, we've been able
to work on the tactics we want to use."
One of the areas North York must
address is how to solve its offensive shortcomings. The Astros only netted 19
goals in 2000 with no individual striker recording more than three markers.
Nardi says LaFerrara has devised a plan for the midfielders to be more
active and the ball must be in constant movement.
"(The plan) is very
offensive minded and it doesn't require one player to score but the goals will
be spread around."
Another addition to the Astros is midfielder Dejan
Gluscevic, who signed with the club last week. The 33 year-old has been gladly
welcomed into the fold because of his extensive experience in Asian professional
soccer plus some time with the Montreal Impact of the A-League.
In net
is Eddie Kehoe, who has performed in Ireland's second division. With a couple of
games for North York last year, Kehoe replaces the Astros' 2000 nomination for
goalkeeper-of-the-year, Peter Libicz.
Following this Sunday's opener
against the York Region Shooters, North York begins its home dates on Sunday,
June 3rd at 7 p.m. versus Croatia at Esther Shiner Stadium. All of the Astros
games are on Sundays and family season passes are available for $10.
While Nardi doesn't have the same bravado as the G.M. Ierullo, he points
out the importance of the initial matches, if the Astros want to challenge for
any playoff positions.
"We definitely want to win our home opener but to
also win the first game and install confidence."
.
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