Graduation has hit the Newburgh Free Academy boys’ and girls’ soccer team’s hard after the 2023 season, and both will head into the 2024 season with young rosters.

The girls’ team will enter the season without the source of most of its offense from past seasons.
The Goldbacks have lost all-time leading scorer Marina Parodo, who is now playing at Sacred Heart, and Juliana Leonard, now playing at Manhattan College due to graduation. They also have lost Damaris Moran, Malia Robinson, and Michelle Prado.

“We are looking to rebuild after losing 11 players to graduation,” Newburgh girls’ coach Dave Doulin said. “With a mix of new players and some experienced returners, we hope to compete for a place in the Section 9 Class AAA tournament.”

The experienced returners include midfielder/forward Riley Frederick, midfielder/defender Taylor Morrill, defender Madison Foti, forward Julia Lopez, and midfielder Emily Leonard.

“We lost a lot of experience and a lot of goal-scoring depth to graduation,” Doulin said. “We return a good core of players through the middle of the field and will try to find a place for the new players to fit in.’

New players looking for a place to fit in include midfielder/goalkeeper Ella Henderson, forward Genesis Merlin Hernandez, and midfielder Keylin Aleman.

Last year’s Goldbacks’ team was the third of three times to enter the Section 9 Class AAA tournament and were eliminated in the semifinals by the Pine Bush Bushmen.

They will look to return to the tournament as the new players integrate with the new ones.
It won’t be easy.

“We will struggle with a lack of depth so we will have to rely on conditioning,” Doulin said. “We have some tough games on our schedule, so we have to be ready to step up in competition and improve as the season goes on.”

Boys
The boys’ team were seeded second in last year’s Section 9 Class AA tournament, but were knocked out by the Kingston Tigers, the eventual champions.

The Goldbacks will enter the season having lost Yensel Granados, Dennis Ayala, Angel Rosario, Steven Hernandez, and Henry Moran to graduation.

However, they will return some key players in Nick Thomaz, Frank Mandato, Jordy Moran, Justin Saravia, Isaac Ortega, and Larry Robinson.

While the Goldbacks may be young – nine sophomores and a freshman – the talent is there.
“As always, we go into the season with high hopes of contending for the sectional title,” Newburgh boy’s coach Matt Iorlano said. “There is a lot of work to be done, but the groundwork is there.”
Joining the team this year will be Ian Enamorado Garcia, Chase Steiner, Roger Cando, and Giovani Sanchez.

“There is quite a bit of talent among these players,” Iorlano said. “With some leadership from our returning seniors and juniors, I think we can mature as a team throughout the season and possibly be in the mix come playoff time.”