Chemistry fuels Carey's optimism

The days of rebuilding at Carey boys’ soccer may be over at last, as the Seahawks are ready to take a big leap forward under coach Matthew Princi. Their last two seasons have both ended with losing records, but with dynamic veteran players and a small army of young talent, the time for rebuilding has finally ended.
“The vibe this year is just different,” Princi said. “We also just have a lot of talented players. There’s a bunch of younger kids on the team and they all can play, so it’s a highly competitive environment.”
Since finishing the 2021 season with a 12-2 record, Carey has not had a winning record and went 5-9-1 last year, missing the playoffs. Princi described the performance as disappointing, but the Seahawks seem intent on quickly turning it around.
Senior left-back and captain Christian Toto, a three-year varsity player, is expected to lead Carey on and off the field and has been highly influential in changing the culture and outlook in Princi’s program. Not only will he be a technical asset, but he has done well to impart advice on younger players.
“It’s all the little things in the offseason, strength training, conditioning, all of that, and Christian looks to encourage the rest of his teammates to do the same in the off-season,” Princi said. “He’s one of our best athletes. He’s up and down the sideline, all game long. He’s very vocal. You know, he pushes his teammates, but he’s always very positive in the way he does it.”

The other captains, midfielder Matteo Campoli and center-back Michael Lombardi, are both strong facilitators in different ways and excel through communication. Campoli is known for distributing the ball and serves as an inventive conductor on offense, while Lombardi uses a clear field of the pitch ahead and pilots the defense.
Carey doesn’t boast a large senior class, but midfielders Franklin Avendano and Michael Stratakis are both well-placed to have a massive impact in every game.
Andres Jimenez, a winger, didn’t play for Carey as a junior, but he has been playing for high-level club teams throughout high school and is expected to be an “unexpected spark” for the offense. He will play alongside senior Ronald Reyes and junior Evan Cardoso, two wingers who are expected to be aggressive goal scorers in 2025.
Every team needs a motor, and the Seahawks will rely on midfielder Christian Contti for this extremely active role. “He’s everywhere,” Princi said. “That’s the best way to describe him. He’s all over the field. He goes box to box, offensively, defensively, he doesn’t stop operating the entire game, and he’s not afraid to put his body on the line for the team.”
While Carey has the pieces in place to win now, the future also seems fairly secure. Princi described sophomores Anthony Tonkin, Ethan Joseph and Nick Moreno, as well as freshman Dylan Cruz, as highly precocious players. They have the potential to carry the Seahawks forward in the near-future, but their next step is still right in front of them this fall.