MORGANTOWN — If there’s anything that helps a soccer team sleep at night, it’s knowing they have a talented and productive striker who can — to borrow from ice hockey, another sport where goal scoring is a rare and precious commodity — put the biscuit in the basket.
In the past several seasons, the University boys’ soccer team has been blessed with two of the premier forwards in the state in Joseph “JoJo” Biafora and the recently graduated Riley Nett, which has in turn made the Hawks’ offense a force to be reckoned with and game-planned for.
But this year, that player with the magic boot has yet to emerge, which means the 2021 season presents coach Michael Smith’s group with an added challenge.
“We’ve had to turn the page from last year,” Smith said of his senior-laden squad that made it all the way to the state finals before bowing to George Washington last season. “There were eight very experienced, very talented seniors on that team, from Riley all the way back to Timmy Bailey in net. But I know that this group is ready to create their own story, their own legacy, to put their own imprint on UHS soccer history.
“It will be a very different team and we’re still sorting out the best spots and formations that will give us the best chance to be successful. In the past, we knew exactly where our offense would be directed in our attacking third, but I think we’ll be looking for many different ways to generate offense this year.”
Senior midfielder Evan Acciavatti and the rest of his mates knew this time was coming, when their goal scoring security blanket might not be around, but that doesn’t mean finding a way to replace those goals will be any easier.
“I think it will take a mindset adjustment,” he said. “It was a little simpler before — get it to those guys, and let them do their thing. But now, we have to generate offense from all over, in a more classic attack. Build from the back, play wide, then feed the box. Earn more set piece opportunities, which will be a big key for us, and hopefully we can develop the kind of aggressive offensive mindset that made those guys so special.”
According to Smith, the recipe for the Hawks this year is clear.
“We will be as successful as our conditioning and mental toughness allows us to be,” he stated. “Soccer can be very frustrating, to work so hard, dominate in possession, territory, and chances, and still not score. So how we react to those situations, how positive and supportive and active we are, especially late in games, will make a big difference. I’m excited to see what we’re made of.”
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