Hamilton West goalie Brian Zarzecki makes a save during the first half of the Hornets’ 5-0 loss to Trenton Oct. 16, 2012. (Staff photo by Rob Anthes.)
Brian Zarzecki has gone from a reluctant goalie to a contented keeper. And the Hamilton High School West boys’ soccer team benefitted from the metamorphosis.
When Zarzecki arrived at Hamilton in ninth grade, first-year coach Mark “Goose” Laurenti was close to posting a “Goalkeeper Needed” sign on the preseason practice field.
“Freshman year, I was really forced into it,” Zarzecki said. “They were looking for anybody, and I mean anybody, with any experience as a keeper. So, I was really put into a position I wasn’t very comfortable with.”
Zarzecki had come up through the Hamilton rec leagues playing forward and defense. He started club ball at age 7, and it wasn’t until eighth grade that he even thought about the position.
“Even then, I didn’t like it much,” the junior said.
“He came in two years ago and kind of grudgingly played goalie on the freshman team that first year,” Laurenti said.
The experience didn’t do much for Zarzecki’s love of the position. As a sophomore he made varsity as a field player and left the goalkeeping duties to seniors Kyle Rogers and John Novak.
When they graduated, the “Goalie Needed” sign was considered again.
“Coming into this year, everybody knew that the team didn’t have a keeper,” Zarzecki said. “I was reluctant at first, but everyone kept telling me I should play. I worked on it a lot over the summer at workouts and came into preseason determined to get the starting job. I think I made the right choice.”
“Over summer he must have thought about it and realized this would be his opportunity to play,” Laurenti said. “He must have worked hard over the summer because he won the job and has done a terrific job for us. He’s really stepped up.”
Zarzecki has been part of a mini renaissance at Hamilton, which won its first Mercer County Tournament game to improve to five wins this season. It won just three games the previous two seasons combined (none last year).
He has not only helped out, but he has been a happy contributor.
“I love playing keeper,” Zarzecki exclaimed. “There is no better feeling than stopping a penalty kick with the game tied, or coming up huge on a breakaway to preserve the score.
“My team really has faith in me and I have a lot of faith in myself. It may be the hardest position to play, but it is definitely the most fun.”
Playing goalie on the varsity level is a little different than playing for the freshman team, and Zarzecki immediately noticed a difference. Most notably, a quicker pace to the games.
“Freshman year, it would take the opposing team some time to transition from defense to offense,” he said. “At the varsity level, your team can have a corner, and 10 seconds later, you can be faced with a breakaway. I’ve learned I always have to be on my toes.”
Zarzecki did all he could to become better prepared, as he played in goal every day during summer workouts.
“I still wasn’t as ready as I wanted to be coming into preseason,” he said. “I mostly worked on my reflexes and strengthening my core. A keeper always needs a strong core.”
He also needs a strong corps – as in defensive corps. Laurenti feels that defenders Erik Wiener, Victor Franco, John Ramone and Nawki Labang have given Zarzecki some help even though the keeper averages around 10 saves per game.
“He’s worked every game and improved on his communication skills with the defense,” Laurenti said. “He’s a quiet guy, not a real vocal guy. He’s learned with the coaching staff to work at talking and if you’ve got the ball, keep the ball, let those guys get out and get behind you.”
Zarzecki, who has a hefty 3.6 grade point average, isn’t too sure about that “quiet” thing.
“I’m not very quiet at practice or in school,” he said. “I’m always joking around with my teammates. One thing that helps is that I have Erik back there, and he does a whole lot of talking very loud.
“I’ve been working on talking more and communicating with my defenders as much as I can. I’m still not to where I want to be though.”
And while Zarzecki has been forced to face numerous shots this season, he feels it hasn’t been a bad thing considering his new love for the position.
“Obviously, I’d like to see us pressure the opposition’s defense a little more, but I’m a goalie,” he said. “Goalies live for having shots taken at them from all angles and having the weight of the game on their shoulders. I’m no different.”
And while Hamilton is still far from an elite team in the Colonial Valley Conference, the Hornets are no longer everyone’s doormats as many of their losses this year were well-played, close setbacks.
“We all came into preseason knowing we didn’t want a repeat of last year and we really worked hard too,” Zarzecki said. “Unfortunately, we got off to a very slow start against Allentown and Hightstown. Then, the big rivalry game against Steinert came and everyone upped their level of play (in a 1-0 double overtime loss).
“We were definitely disappointed at the end result, but we came out of that game a much stronger unit, and we all knew we could string together a lot of good performances. It’s been a fun season, and the morale of the team has been high the whole way through.”
So has the morale of the goalie, who went from reluctant to rejoicing when it came to stopping shots.
