Missing playoffs means motivation for boys soccer

Written by Steven Buono
Wednesday, 28 October 2009 12:19

The Darien boys soccer team made a strong bid to keep its playoff hopes alive, but lost 2-1 to an 11-3-1 power in Trumbull at home on Monday.

Darien, winless in six, drops to 3-8-3 having needed to nab three points from its final two games to make states.

Captain and goalie Robbie Shindler made five saves and Andrew Del Col stopped four shots while the Wave put nine shots on goal.

JJ Holmgren scored for the Wave which fell behind 2-1 in the first half.

“Despite the score it’s a little disappointing for the boys,” said Darien coach Nicolae Piperea. “They did everything that they could. We had (a) 1-0 (lead) in the Danbury game, and we lost (2-1). And that’s the way it is.

“But it is great motivation factor for next season.”

Unlike in the past when DHS has missed playoffs, this season had the boys in every game.

“We were so close in the majority of the games that we played,” Piperea added. “Unfortunately the season stopped a little bit too short.”

The season does not close bitterly, or even close in fact, until this afternoon when Darien plays its last scheduled game at Stamford.

“Today we are going to play for team pride, for the seniors, you know, for better (position) in the final standings,” Piperea said.

They go into the final match upbeat, even with the rain beating down, and having to face a comedown from what was the team’s best season in 10 making FCIACs last fall.

No matter. Heads are high.

“I want to thank every single player on the team for trying their best to achieve our objectives,” said Piperea. “One was learning to play as a team as we are going through a rebuilding process. The team improved so much on the defensive game.”

And Darien was good on the attack starting from the back and rolling forward.

The main trouble though was once they reached the other end.

“One thing that we definitely need to improve for next year is finishing,” Piperea said. “But I would like to give credit to all the players for having a very competitive season.”

Darien was competitive beyond the win/loss column, it’s true.

“The standings don’t show what is happening every game,” Piperea added. “But every game, these guys give 100 percent. That’s a big plus from years back.”

And a year forward?

“We have some very talented players who have either played for the varsity this year or they did very well in jv and freshman,” Piperea said. “The program — we have hopes for next season.”