Mike Davitt inherited a team that was “top heavy” on forwards and midfielders for his first season as Holy Redeemer boys soccer coach.

Anthony Khoudary and Matt Blaum, two senior captains who live in the Dallas School District, made sure that was not a problem for the Royals.

Khoudary directed the less-experienced defenders in front of him in his third season as starting goalie while Blaum made the move to the defense’s most demanding position as sweeper.

Both players – and the entire team – enjoyed a successful season, helping Holy Redeemer reach a milestone in boys soccer when it defeated Lake-Lehman in a playoff for the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 title.

“Especially with a new coach coming in, we could have used the excuse of a year of transition,” Davitt said. “But, they wanted to work hard and they really wanted to win something this year.

“Holy Redeemer boys soccer never had any type of championship, no banner to look back on and say ‘I was a part of that team’. This group really wanted that.

“To win our conference was really a nice accomplishment for the boys.”

It was one of many for the Holy Redeemer athletic program during a successful fall. Back Mountain athletes were a big part of the many team accomplishments.

Holy Redeemer joined Lake-Lehman as the two schools that each had two teams among the last five fall teams standing from the Wyoming Valley Conference when the girls volleyball and field hockey teams each advanced to the state semifinals with the help of contributions from Brynn Kukosky and Talia Kosierowski.

Lucas Volpetti and Scott Williams were part of the state qualifying boys cross country team; Alex Kester and Charlotte Maria helped the girls tennis team win one title and play for another, and Nicole Cavanaugh helped the girls soccer team reach a playoff for its division title.

Khoudary was voted first-team, all-Division 2 goalie by WVC coaches.

“He was a vocal leader, constantly directing players,” Davitt said of Khoudary, who was in goal for all but about 20 minutes of one game on the season. “ … He was playing behind three brand-new defenders, three players who had never played defense before.

“ … If we didn’t have him in goal – even though we have a lot of great assets on the field – I don’t think we have the season we had this year.”

Blaum was a second-team all-star pick by coaches for his play on defense after making the move from outside midfielder.

“He’s very tall and very strong at winning the ball out of the air,” Davitt said. “He’s also very fast and very patient.

“As a sweeper, you need to be patient. He did a sensational job back there for it being his first and only year as a sweeper. He made the most of it, playing a new position and doing what was best for the team.”

Holy Redeemer went 13-1-2 to tie for first, then beat Lake-Lehman in a playoff for the division title.

Kukosky was named first-team, all-star by WVC coaches. She led the Royals to a 16-1 record in the conference, a 10th straight District 2 title and a trip to the Class 2A semifinals with a pair of state tournament wins.

The 5-foot-9 senior outside hitter led the team and ranked fifth in the conference with 161 kills. She was third on the team in service points with 131.

Kosierowski, a senior who was also a starter on the District 2 championship basketball team last winter, was the third-leading scorer on the WVC Division 2 champions and the first field hockey state qualifier in school history. She scored 15 goals, including a pair of hat tricks, and had 9 assists for a team that lost the district final in overtime, then won two state tournament games.

Volpetti, a sophomore, was an individual district medalist, finishing ninth in Class 2A.

Williams, a junior, completed the five-runner team score as the Royals edged Berwick, a team they finished behind the regular season, for the second District 2 berth at the state meet.

The team was 16-2 in the regular season then finished 10th in the state with Volpetti and Williams finishing as the Royals’ third and fourth runners in Hershey.

Holy Redeemer was the WVC’s top Class 2A team in girls’ tennis, earning a playoff shot against Hazleton Area for the conference’s overall title before losing there.

Maria and Kester, both seniors, were the second and third singles players on a team that also reached the District 2 Class 2A championship match.

Maria, in both singles and doubles, and Kester, in doubles, won District 2 tournament matches before being eliminated in the round of 16.

Cavanaugh, a senior midfielder, shared the team with lead with 13 assists and was third with 12 goals as the Royals went 15-1 in girls soccer during the regular season. They split with eventual Division 2 champion Lake-Lehman before falling to the Black Knights in overtime in division and district playoffs.

Holy Redeemer sophomore goalkeeper Anthony Khoudary saves a shot on goal against Wyoming Seminary during this past season.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Sem-Redeemer-Boys-Soccer-1.jpg.optimal.jpgHoly Redeemer sophomore goalkeeper Anthony Khoudary saves a shot on goal against Wyoming Seminary during this past season.
Khoudary, Blaum lift Royals’ soccer program to first-ever conference title

By TOM ROBINSON

For the Dallas Post

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