Soccer Preview: Monarch Ready To Climb To The Top

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Monarch has not made it to the state boys' soccer tournament since 2009, has played in only three region playoff matches and not won a district title in five years.

But that could all change this season with one of the program's strongest teams.

"That is an unnatural run for this school," said longtime Monarch coach Steve Lorenc. "Hopefully, this year we can pull it off and get back to the top of the soccer world in Broward County. I would like to see them come back to prominence."

While the Knights have one of the toughest Class 5A schedules with defending state champion Boca Raton, Douglas, Coral Springs, Deerfield Beach and Spanish River, they also have some of the county's top talent, both returnees and newcomers.

"This is one of the strongest teams I have had, the best we have had in quite a few years and I told the boys that," Lorenc said.

"I told them there really is nothing they cannot accomplish," Lorenc said. "If they don't have the effort, they are going to lose. As long as they go out there with a true focus anything is possible."

The Knights, with eight seniors, have several new impact players with senior forward Matheus Guimaraes, sophomore forward Davi Da Cruz and senior midfielder Pietro Nicolau, all from Brazil, and freshman goalie Noah Black, a member of the state's Olympic development program.

Sophomore Rodrigo DaSilva, who played for the U.S. Soccer Academy last year, returns along with a strong core of players including senior midfielder Kevian Ferraz, senior defender Matheus Mendes and senior goalkeeper Lucas Neves.

"The players we have coming back and new ones coming in makes for a dynamic team," Lorenc said.

On November 9th, the Knights got a good indication just how strong they are when they played and lost to defending state 5A champion Boca Raton, 1-0, in only the second game of the season.

"Boca was disappointing because we out shot them by a pretty good margin and had greater opportunities to score but didn't finish our chances and they took advantage of that," Lorenc said. "Good teams will punish you. It's an intense rivalry. It's tough to beat them on their home turf. We see them again Dec. 8 here at home."

The Knights are 5-1 and have outscored opponents, 20-1. Their next big test is Nov. 28 when they travel to Douglas (1-0) for a night game. Last year the Knights tied and lost to Douglas in their two meetings.

"I see what's been out there the last few years," Lorenc said. "Based on my years of experience I know what it takes to be successful. If they match their talent with maximum effort, there is nothing they can't accomplish. I told the boys I truly believe this."

Lorenc started the Monarch soccer program in 2003 and is in his 30th season overall as a high school soccer coach.

Lorenc won 217 games at Piper (1988-2003) and notched his 200th at Monarch last season. His coaching record is 430-169-76. He is the only coach to win 200-plus games at two public high schools in Broward.

Of course, it's not only about the wins and losses, Lorenc emphasizes.

"My job is to make sure they are focused on and off the field," Lorenc said. "I have preached my whole coaching career that I want to help the boys become men. We have been very successful in that area and I am pleased with that. We want to make them better young men, not just better soccer players."

Several of his student-athletes have gone on to play at two and four-year colleges and earned college degrees.

Lorenc stresses the "student" in student-athlete.

"I tell the boys they are going to be their own worst enemies," Lorenc said. "If they mess up in school, I will suspend them. It's tough love. If they are not doing right in classrooms they will sit. It hurts them and the team but education is the priority.

"We are building the team like family where they look out for one another. When you are working with kids from different cultures all they think is sport. That's where the attitude adjustment of putting academics first comes in. Before sport, there is school."

Getting to the state playoffs would be the ultimate for Lorenc, who has already announced this will be his last year coaching, but said the season is not about him.

"It would be a great way to go out but I am content, win or lose, it would be cool, but it's not my main thing," Lorenc said. "I had a great run and great time, but I am secondary. I would like to see these kids be successful."

In addition to Monarch, there is plenty of talent in Broward County.

Cypress Bay will try and win its fifth state title which would tie St. Thomas Aquinas and American Heritage for the most titles won by a Broward team. The Lightning has won four state titles in the past six years.

South Broward, the most improved 4A team last season, returns as district champion. The Bulldogs won their first district crown since 2011 and were undefeated until the region semifinals where they lost to eventual 4A state champion Belen Jesuit.

BOYS TO WATCH

American Heritage Plantation: Landon Lupo, Jerry Cabrera, Joseph Vinson, Jonathan Gomes, Malcolm Tilokee, Alex Wallace.

Cardinal Gibbons: Eddie Catapano, Enrique Vicentini, Ryan Cedeno, Sebastian Llanes, Johny Kass, Vincenzo Forte.

Chaminade-Madonna: Nick Boerner.

Coconut Creek: Javel Black, Dore Ramjas, Daniel Jimenez, McKenzie Sammy, Kervens Pierre, Juan Hoyos.

Cooper City: William Upegui, Diego Mendoza, Alfonso Mendoza, Miguel Gonzalez, Lucas Cusnir.

Coral Glades: Joel Nicholson.

Cypress Bay: William Fiero, Mateo Pieschacon, Ricardo Pacheco.

Douglas: Daniel Mederios, Ryan Irwin, Felipe Mendes.

Fort Lauderdale: Wolgy Joseph, Parker Malman.

Highlands Christian: Alex Felicetta.

Monarch: Kevian Ferraz, Rodrigo Da Silva, Matheus Guimaraes, Pietro Nicolau, Davi Da Cruz, Santiago Latorre, Matheus Mendes, Noah Black, Lucas Neves.

North Broward Prep: Danny Espinoza, Cristian Vinasco, Sergil Olkhovskyi, Evan Von Oehsen, Chris Vinasco, Andrew Lyew, Jeremiah Edouard.

Pine Crest: David Lederman, Joseph Murciano, Garon Joannou, Ryan Sullivan, Max Marchette.

Posnack: Max Freund, Will Schertzer, John Tashof.

St. Thomas Aquinas: Trevor Walsh, Brandon Golding, Michael Luke, Gabriel Mesa, Giovanni Miranda, Liam Nagy, Nic Fezza.

Somerset Academy: Rodrigo Chavarria.

South Broward: Flavian Hunter, Juan Bolivar, Agustin Cuina, Damian Fernandez, Ilya Chakyr, Angel Garcia.

South Plantation: Kyle McKendrick, Gabriel Sandobal, Dagoberto Guido, John Louis, Justin Lewis, Wilber Flores.

University School: Cory Adika, David Mizrahi, Liam Borbely, Ricardo Iblisky, Juan Zarate, Joaquin Rodriguez.

Westminster Academy: Patrick Sastre, Travis Singh, Patrick Lynch, Mike Hunter, Gabe Joannou, John Kelly.

DEFENDING STATE CHAMPIONS
Class 5A: Boca Raton
Class 4A: Belen Jesuit
Class 3A: Ponte Vedra
Class 2A: Ransom Everglades
Class 1A: Miami Scheck Hillel

KEY DATES
Nov. 28, Monarch at Douglas, 7 p.m.
Dec. 3, American Heritage Plantation at Westminster Academy, 7 p.m.
Dec. 5, St. Thomas Aquinas at Pembroke Pines Charter, 7 p.m.
Dec. 7, Archbishop McCarthy at St. Thomas Aquinas, 8 p.m.
Dec. 8, Boca Raton at Monarch, 4 p.m.
Dec. 9, American Heritage Plantation at American, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9-10, Ransom Everglades Tournament
Dec. 12, Monarch at North Broward Prep, 6 p.m.
Dec. 13, Pembroke Pines Charter at American Heritage Plantation
Dec. 14, Gulliver Prep at American Heritage Plantation, 6 p.m.
Dec. 15, Monarch at Spanish River, 8 p.m.
Dec. 17, American Heritage Plantation at St. Thomas Aquinas, 6 p.m.
Dec. 22, Cape Coral at St. Thomas Aquinas, 6 p.m.
Jan. 4, St. Thomas Aquinas vs. Cypress Bay, Lauderhill Sports Complex
Jan. 9, Monarch at Coconut Creek, 5 p.m.
Jan. 10, Douglas at Monarch, 4 p.m.
Jan. 12-14, Montverde Invitational
Jan. 14, LaSalle at American Heritage Plantation, 11 a.m.
Jan. 17, St. Thomas Aquinas at Monarch, 4 p.m.
Jan. 21, Douglas at St. Thomas Aquinas
Jan. 23-28, District tournaments
Feb. 2, Region tournament quarterfinals
Feb. 7, Region tournament semifinals
Feb. 10, Region tournament finals
Feb. 15-18, State Championships