Gateway boys soccer grows from early-season setbacks

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, September 7, 2018 | 7:25 PM

Opposing teams need to get in their licks in now on the Gateway boys soccer team because once experience catches up to talent, the Gators are going to be a force for the foreseeable future, according to coach Bernie Stiles.

“At some point, there will be a watershed moment where we will no longer be an average high school team,” said Stiles, who is in his second season coaching the Gators. “When it happens, my job will be to keep it going.”

Gateway (0-3, 0-1 Section 4-3A) graduated six seniors from a team that came one win, or a tie, shy of showing up in the WPIAL postseason bracket for the second season in a row. When a team barely misses the postseason, the shoulda, coulda and woulda’s tend to creep in.

“We were very close and just one more result away,” Stiles said. “We have to beat the teams that we should beat.”

A closer look at Gateway’s schedule will reveal the Gators, without question, have had a difficult slate to start the season. The Gators opened with an 8-0 loss to No. 1-ranked West Allegheny in the Plum tournament, dropped a 3-0 decision to the host Mustangs, and came right back to open Section 4-3A play against No. 2-ranked Franklin Regional. The Panthers are a perennial postseason power that dropped down from Class 4A after this past winter’s realignment.

Gateway still has to travel to No. 3 South Fayette for a section matchup this week before the Gators schedule eases up a bit. Despite the uphill battle, Stiles said the start to the 2018 season is going as planned.

“Conflict arises when expectations don’t meet reality,” Stiles said. “We knew that this was all very possible. At every level, there’s another devil. No matter how this all plays out, there’s always going to be those teams that are difficult. We’re going to be a better team because of this.”

The Gators aren’t quantifying success with wins. A team that starts a combined eight freshmen and sophomores alongside one junior and two seniors can’t afford to look too far ahead. The best thing the Gators can do is keep learning from every game.

The Gators played Franklin Regional to a virtual tie in the first half but a late Panthers goal to end the half seemed to lead to the Gators second-half undoing and a 7-0 loss.

“The (Franklin Regional) score is not indicative of what happened,” Stiles said. “Franklin Regional scored with two minutes in the first half. There’s a question of being focused and committed to the process in there, but there are signs that we’re showing against some real strong teams.”

The fact that the Gators have yet to find the back of the net is also a bit worrisome. Sophomores Alex Gutierrez and Christopher Snyder lead the Gators attack. Snyder tied for the team lead last year with seven goals.

“(Snyder’s) proven that if his foot is in the box he can finish,” Stiles said. “He has that knack.”

Freshman Dietrich Zeisloff, sophomore Jon Rathfan, junior Aral Muftuoglu and senior newcomer Matthew Conti will hold down the midfielder spots. Stiles spoke highly of Muftuoglu’s play.

“(Muftuoglu) is what the Germans call a lawn mower because he tracks so many balls and covers so much ground,” Stiles said. “If I had 11 of him, we’d have no worries.”

On the back end, the Gators start freshman Gabriel Shaw, sophomore Matthew Murphy, Bilal Mukhtar and senior Michael Reynolds. Reynolds is the glue that keeps the Gators’ defense together in front of sophomore keeper Sam Alexander.

“(Reynolds) is a lifesaver in a way and cleans up our mistakes,” Stiles said. “It’s rare that he ever gets beat one on one.”

Despite the slow start, Stiles has not lost confidence in his team. The young Gators have the benefit of realizing the standard early in the season and have time to reach it.

“We’ve learned a lot about each other and what we need,” Stiles said. “It’s a sooner or later with us, so why not now?”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Gateway