Jay Mason gets his shot as keeper for Roma with departure of Dino
Perri
Jim Wallace
The Standard
Staff Photo by Leonard
Lepage
Jay Mason takes over in goal for the Club Roma Wolves from veteran
Dino Perri, who has moved on to play for the new Hamilton entry in the Canadian
Professional Soccer League. Shortly after 8:15 tonight, Jay Mason will make his
way to the St. Catharines Club Roma Wolves goal.
He'll take a glance
downfield and see someone he'd never expect staring back down at him -- Dino
Perri in the visitors' goal.
Much like former Buffalo Sabres goaltender
Dominik Hasek and backup Martin Biron, Mason has spent two years on the Wolves
bench, learning his trade and taking any tips he could from the veteran Perri,
who left the Wolves with four other players to play for the Canadian
Professional Soccer League expansion Hamilton Thunder.
The 24-year-old
Mason figures it was time well spent.
"I came here to learn; I obviously
knew I wasn't going to start," he said during the Wolves' final practice for
their home opener tonight against Hamilton. "I was in a position where I could
learn watching him and training with him.
"You obviously gain experience
from playing, but it's the best thing to play with a guy like him for that
long."
Mason, who was born in Germany and spent a couple of years in
Greece before coming to Ontario when he was three, learned his soccer in St.
Catharines with the Concord. He had an 18-month stint with the national program
and a year at Beamsville District Secondary School when he played midfield.
"They needed a guy to fill the middle ... and I decided to fill in. I
ended up being the leading scorer that year."
And it was a bit of a
break from being the last line of defence, too.
"It was a nice release
because if you made a mistake, you could run back behind the ball. If you make a
mistake in goal, you're hoping for help from your goalposts."
The 6-foot
goalkeeper also spent two years on a full soccer scholarship in Charleston,
S.C., but he and nine other starters left after a disagreement with the coaching
staff.
"I loved the people and I loved the area, but I wasn't enjoying
soccer, and that's a big part of my life. It's still a game, overall, and you
have to keep reminding yourself it's a game, so have fun and compete."
Competing is something Mason will now have the chance to do, and until
he builds up a communication with his defence, he'll depend on reflexes to carry
him through.
"Reaction is a big part of my game," he explained, "being
patient enough and anticipating where the ball's going.
"Dino had that
with his experience; he can read the play better than I can.
"I have to
make up for that by being athletic."
Mason also feels confidence is a
big part of the game, and that's one of the reasons he didn't mind serving his
apprenticeship.
"Confidence is a big thing; it's hard as a backup coming
to the game knowing you're not going to play, coming to practice and knowing
you're not going to start. You just have to keep working and keep working until
you get that chance.
"You don't want to get in over your head,
especially as a keeper. They pop in five goals and the confidence is gone, and
it takes a while for that to come back."
And as for having Perri staring
back at him from the other end of the pitch?
"Am I excited? Extremely.
It's going to be great."
.
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