THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, SEpTEmbER 6, 2024 Page 13 Former Tide boys’ soccer player Rodney Landaverde takes over program After opening up the season at medford, malden, the 2018 EHS graduate can’t wait for the home opener next Thursday against Chelsea By Joe McConnell T he Everett High School (EHS) boys’ soccer team has a new coach, and he is Rodney Landaverde, a former Tide player. The Everett native is replacing Pedro Blas, who had been in charge of the program since 2019, one year after his successor graduated from the high school. Landaverde, who grew up on Lexington Street, began playing soccer at a very young age. Once at the high school, he played for Coach Oswaldo Constanza. Rodney was the captain of Constanza’s team during his senior year in the fall of 2017. Currently a science teacher at the high school, Landaverde has considerable coaching experience for his young age. He was the EHS JV girls coach in Dom Persuitte’s program last year, but prior to that he coached in the Everett Youth Soccer League and Mass. Youth Soccer for six years. “I credit my dad (Hector) for introducing me to the sport of soccer, and over the years he prepared me to be a player, as well as a coach,” said Rodney, who has three older sisters. Rodney is taking over a program that was 6-8-1 last year, just missing the state tournament by one game. But that was then, and this is now, and he’s looking forward to changing some of the culture. “Coming in as a new coach and bringing in a new staff, we are building a new culture throughout the program,” Landaverde said. “We want to create an environment where we focus on respect, discipline and faith, which will allow the players to express their styles of play. “We are very ambitious with this year’s group,” the first-year coach added. “There is a lot of talent across all of our teams. We also have plenty of experience coming back, which will help build the team chemistry and leadership. We want to win the Greater Boston League (GBL) title, and of course qualify for the postseason. Once there, wide World Cup Tournament last year,” said Landaverde. “Matt is very ambitious, and I know he will do a great job teaching the fundamentals of the game.” Edgar Ruiz is the program’s Former EHS boys’ soccer player Rodney Landaverde, Class of 2018, shown above, is now in charge of the program. (Courtesy photo) we want to make a deep run to challenge for the state championship.” Landaverde loves the attitude of the team to date. “All the players have been great to work with these past few weeks,” he said. “Everyone has brought great energy to each practice. They are focused on learning a new style of play, and the veterans are welcoming the newcomers.” There’s no shortage of players in this year’s boys’ soccer program. Landaverde and his staff welcomed 160 to the first day of tryouts, which is a record number for the program. Currently, there are 12 seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen on the varsity roster, and they are going to be an attack-minded team with a lot of options up top, according to the new coach, who also foresees a solid foundation in the back coupled with a disciplined approach that should translate into wins. Landaverde assembles talented staff Carlos Andres Ruiz is Landaverde’s varsity assistant coach. “(Ruiz) brings much experience on the player development side. He’s going to be responsible for teaching the players different layers of the game, not just the physical and tactical side,” said Landaverde. “He is a former Division 1 player/coach, and we are very lucky to have him on our staff.” Former Medford Mustang Josh Crespo is the JV head coach. “(Crespo) brings much enthusiasm and passion in the developmental process of the players, while also showing them how to love the game of soccer,” Landaverde said. “I’m confident that Josh will do well in developing the underclassmen for the varsity level.” Matt Lerrett is the freshman coach. “He’s a teacher at the Keverian School, and also worked with the middle school boys’ soccer team at the citygoaltender coach. Ruiz, a history teacher at the high school, returns to the program as a coach. He was on Constanza’s staff when Landaverde was a Tide player. “(Ruiz) has worked with the high school-age player over the years, and I’m very grateful he is back in the program developing our goalkeepers,” said Landaverde. The Tide scrimmaged Northeast Metro Tech, Pioneer Charter School and Beverly to get ready for the season. They lost to Northeast and Beverly, but came out on top against Pioneer. “As a staff, we saw a lot more positives than negatives in these three scrimmages, and have taken the lessons learned and have since applied them to our recent practices,” said Landaverde. “Our emphasis has been on applying the training principles that we have worked on to date in the practices and scrimmages, so that it feels natural all the time. They have done a great job in following those principles.” From student to teacher “As a former player in this program, I’m very excited to be in the position to lead the next generation of Everett soccer players,” said Landaverde. “I’d love to continue the tradition of competing against the best teams in the state. We have a group of hard-working players that are ready to compete for a playoff spot, while also making some noise in the GBL this year. “I’m looking forward to our season opener at Medford on Sept. 5 (after press deadline), and am looking forward to specifically seeing former teachers, friends, family and alumni supporting us in the crowd during all of our games this year,” the Everett native said. “We’ll be at Malden (Pine Banks) on Tuesday (Sept. 10, 4 p.m.), before coming home two days later to take on Chelsea. “I have received so much support so far, and it will come full circle once the season starts. Our home opener against Chelsea will be on Thursday, Sept. 12 (4:15 p.m.) at 7-Acre Park. Chelsea is always a tough opponent, and I can’t wait to see all of our fans there making noise. Roll Tide!”
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