The TABC Storm are back and more determined than ever. It’s already been over a year, but many can still remember Dylan Breen knocking in the goal to put TABC up with mere seconds remaining in the championship against Frisch and crown TABC the 2017 MYHSAL JV Soccer Champions.
Last year, the TABC Varsity team suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of DRS, destroying the 2019 class’s chance to go for a four-peat. But this year, under the leadership of coach Sam Shteingart, the Storm will try to avenge this loss.
The Varsity team has many players returning from last year's championship run, including Seniors Dylan Breen, Avraham Kahan, and Yonadav Rimberg.
These seniors will not settle for anything but another banner. When asked for his prediction of the season, Rimberg said, “My prediction is pretty obvious: we are bringing a ship home!”
Geared for the 2019 seasons, the Varsity team has many assets including its experience (particularly that of its goalkeeper), chemistry, defense, and depth.
Coach Sam Shteingart said that the biggest asset of the team is the experience it has after playing for over three years in indoor soccer as well as other outdoor leagues.
When asked about Avraham Kahan, the goalie of the Varsity squad, Rimberg praised him: “The varsity team’s greatest asset is most definitely our goalie. He does a great job of keeping us in close games and maintaining our leads.”
As opposed to last year’s high powered offensive and explosive style, this year’s Varsity team will be a squad that plays extremely good defense to keep the game close. It may even be the team with the best chemistry in the entire league.
Regarding the team’s chemistry, Rimberg said, “I think the chemistry we have not only helps us in games, but also makes practices more enjoyable. There is a sense of comradery among the guys, and it really helps keep a strong attitude towards our goals.”
Breen replied that the chemistry helps the team in a sense that it makes the plays flow easier, as players have a sense of where their teammates are going to be. As opposed to doing-it-by-yourself goal scoring, the team’s chemistry makes it much easier to score goals.
Breen said the trust the team members have for one another really helps their chemistry; an individual doesn’t feel like he has to do everything himself, but knows his teammates will be there.
As great as the TABC Storm might be, they have a formidable rival in the crosstown Frisch Cougars. Two years ago, these two teams split the season series 1-1, and TABC narrowly pulled ahead in the Championship with a last second goal. Frisch is an excellent team with lots of young, skilled players; they will definitely give TABC a run.
When asked about the Frisch Cougars, Rimberg said, “They should be good competition this year.”
Senior Dylan Breen noted that he expects tough competition from every team, not just Frisch: “We will have to fight for every game. With the right amount of heart and hard work this team has potential to win it all.”
The Seniors who are playing their last season on the TABC Storm are geared up for the season and hoping to win. Instead of getting down about ending their High School careers, these seniors are fired up to bring home the trophy.
Rimberg said, “Being a senior, I know that the first game I play will be the last first game. I hope that motivates me to play harder than ever. I also know that it's my fellow seniors’ last games, so I need to make sure I'm doing my best to bring home a ship for us.”
Dylan Breen emphatically concurred: “With 3 championships under my belt (8th, 9th and 10th) I have already tasted success. But, as a senior coming out of a championship loss last year, I am hungry for redemption and want to leave my indoor soccer career with a bang. A championship win in this last year of mine would perfectly seal my already successful run.”
In addition to these Seniors, the Juniors (led by Daniel Becker, Uri Gulich, and Natan Rifkind) look to add to this already stacked roster.
When asked about the Juniors and how they add to the team as a whole, Rifkind noted that they provide a lot of depth: “We have a lot of kids that can and want to play, so we shouldn't get too tired.”
Rifkind added that their depth and skill will definitely help the team in its goal “to get another banner.”
Coach Sam Shteingart said that, in comparison to last year’s team, the Varsity roster does not have many star players. But the team’s outstanding chemistry and strong players will produce its own formula for victory.
TABC already has a rich history in the soccer league, having made the playoffs for the past 13 years and winning 5 banners in that time. This year, the TABC Varsity team will settle for nothing else but a banner.
But it is not only the Varsity team that is looking towards the championship. The JV team is coming off a tough season last year and will look to rebound by setting the bar high.
Sophomore Saadya Levitt thinks that the JV Storm has a great chance to win the championship as well. Last year, the JV Storm faced the strongest division in the league; this year, the division has weakened, with many key sophomores on other teams (like Frisch goalie Eliav Baron and SAR defensemen David Chorna) have moved up to their varsity teams.
That reality has left the TABC Storm with arguably the most skilled players in the league and a great chance to win the division.
Levitt said that the goal of the team is “to prove ourselves after a disappointing year ...We have to bounce back and show everyone our winning nature.”
While describing the team, Sophomore Max Leibenstern said that the JV team has “tons of talent and athletes who know what they are doing. It would not be surprising to watch [the team] excel.”
When asked about the season, Leibenstern added, “I think we have a great chance of making the playoffs and hopefully winning the ship and getting that banner!”
This year, the team has gained a strong freshman class, one that has already proved that it can win games. As opposed to last year, this year’s team has a lot more depth, which will enable players to be well-rested.
Leibenstern also mentioned that the biggest asset of this team is the chemistry which “leads to our incredible communication on the floor, which is huge in this game.”
The JV team is big in size, which is a huge benefit in this type of sport, and the team has gotten stronger in almost all areas. But last year’s Sophomores and their leadership will be truly missed.
Leibenstern also mentioned the spirit TABC fans bring to the game and how they help the team by supporting our players and intimidating the opponents.
Furthermore, the new TABC head coach for the JV team has established many strong connections and relationships with the players which can only benefit the team.
As is the case with Varsity, the JV Storm’s biggest rival looks to be the Frisch Cougars. They have a strong line-up and many versatile players. The Kushner squad led by Sophomore Max Orbach also looks to be a tough match-up for the Junior Storm.
The JV’s biggest asset looks to be offensive powerhouse Jacob Dahan, the player has the most game experience. Dahan will probably end the year as one of the top goal scorers in the league.
In all, both the Varsity and JV teams are geared up for the season and are setting the bar higher than last year.