News

Cosmos B Aims To Get Back On Right Track In NPSL Home Opener

The club faces off with the Brooklyn Italians, who recently knocked Cosmos B out of the Open Cup
Published May 15, 2018
It won't get the team back into the competition, but New York Cosmos B can exact a measure of revenge on the Brooklyn Italians on Tuesday night.
 
The Italians eliminated Cosmos B from the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup in a 3-2 play-in loss on May 6.
 
On Tuesday night, Cosmos B welcomes the Italians to Hofstra Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y. for its National Premier Soccer League home opener.
 
"Every single player has to be motivated," team captain Danny Szetela said. "We're playing a team that knocked us out of the Open Cup. For us, it's revenge. We want to beat Brooklyn."
 
Szetela wasn't the only New York player who welcomed another shot at the Italians.
 
"This is one of the beautiful things of soccer," defender Jonathan Borrajo said. "You get another opportunity. We have another chance to play the team that knocked us out of the Cup."
 
Cosmos B, which opened the season with an emphatic 4-0 triumph at Boston City FC on April 29, hasn't played since the Open Cup match.
 
"We've had a really, really good week of preparation." Borrajo said. "I think the mentality going into this game, we have a statement to make to make up from what happened. The boys have had a week of training. We're looking forward to it."
 
Head coach Carlos Mendes called the game "huge."
 
"You get knocked out of a cup, you look to bounce back," he added. "It's very important. We need to focus on the league and this is our next league game. They [the Italians] know what they're doing. It's a difficult team to play against. I give them credit for the last game. We need to be better if we want an opportunity to get the three points."
 
Szetela noted Cosmos B played well in its NPSL season opener, but fell off against Brooklyn.
 
"We matched the intensity of the team and we were even more willing to put our bodies on the line," he said. "Against Brooklyn we didn't match their intensity and that was the difference. They had three long balls that they kicked forward and that was their three goals. I definitely think we were the better team, but unfortunately, this is soccer. The team that scores more goals goes on to win the game and move onto the next round. We just have to match their intensity and do the same thing we did in the [opening] game and we'll be fine."
 
Like it or not, Cosmos B's reputation precedes itself because of the organization's accomplishments. The Cosmos have won eight North American Soccer League titles, Cosmos B earned the 2015 NPSL championship.
 
"We're the New York Cosmos, so more often than not, we're going to dictate the pace of the game," Borrajo said. "We want to dictate the tempo of the game. We want to have the ball. That's the New York Cosmos way. So, as long as we have the ball, they can't hurt us. If we make the most of our opportunities and take our chances, I think we'll come away on top. We have to approach the game extremely professionally, use our experience where we have, and we'll be all right."
 
On the flip side, the Cosmos' reputation elevates the opposition, Borrajo said.
 
"Because we're the New York Cosmos. everyone is going to play their best game against us," he said. "Either you want to beat us, or you want to be on this team. everyone's going to play their best game against the New York Cosmos. So that's what we have to be prepared for. We have to be prepared for teams putting 11 guys behind the ball, counter attack."
 
This is an important week for Cosmos B, which plays two home games in six days, hosting Greater Lowell NPSL FC at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. on Sunday at 4 p.m. Since the regular season is only 10 games, points, especially from home matches, are vital.
 
By Sunday night, Cosmos B will have played 30 percent of its schedule.
 
"It's a sprint, it's not a marathon this league," Borrajo said. "That's why the mentality had to change. And it was almost a silver lining that we took it on the chin in the Open Cup. We'd still like to be a part of that, but I think it was a good awakening now for the league. This is very important and there's no mental lapses or slips that we can have in the league. It's so short. Every match, you've got to be 100 percent mentally tuned in and ready to show up and get three points."
 
Mendes agreed, but added Tuesday's game was the more immediate concern.
 
"It's a big week," he said. "One game at a time, but obviously two very important games. I think it'll set the tone. If you pick up six points, you put yourself in a good position early on. It's important to do well at home. You want to pick up the points at home. It's never easy to go on the road. We're focused on Brooklyn right now, making sure we play well and then shift gears and be ready for Sunday."