EHS: Boys soccer team off to hot start

After discussing this season's team for a few minutes following his eighth period English class, Robinson glances at his watch and says, "I've got to leave soon to make it to the Restinos. They're making lasagna."

Not that anybody could argue with homemade Italian, but Robinson isn't bored discussing his 2003-04 Wildcats, and he isn't being rude. It's just that, as coach of a team as tightly knit as this group, his players expect him at their pre-home game tradition just as he expects they'll compete for the district title this season.

That's just the way it is.

"I think that they would just hang out before home games and it kind of became ritual," said Robinson, whose team finished 12-5-3 last season and lost 1-0 to Lely in the district semifinals.

"It's always at (the Restinos') house, but the kids bring different food and their parents will send them with a plate. They make dinner and the kids will play Nintendo. They're a good group of kids, and it's just good camaraderie for them."

The off-the-field bonds are paying early dividends for the Wildcats, who are off to a 3-0 start following wins at Cypress Lake and Lehigh, and a 1-0 home victory Friday -- must be those extra carbohydrates -- over North Fort Myers.

Not surprisingly, an Estero team built on defense has allowed just one goal through the first three games (Nov. 20 at Lehigh), and Robinson said the steady improvement of the Wildcat offense is erasing some of the preseason questions about who's going to score.

"The offense will improve," the coach said. "I'm pushing it as much as I can. I'm focusing on passing and shooting in practice, and in just the first few games I've seen big improvement. If they can score, we'll be fine."

The offense should be led by senior captain Derrick Stewart, who had a goal in the team's 3-1 win over Lehigh, and the coach said he is expecting a solid season from junior midfielder Martin Jijon, who he called "one of our best players last year." Forwards Everton Coutinho (one goal, one assist), A.J. Van Page (one goal, one assist) and Xavier Murillo (one goal) got off to impressive starts to their senior seasons in the team's three wins last week.

Following the team's victory at Lehigh, the coach said he was optimistic with the play of his offense.

"Our passes were better," Robinson said. "Our goals against Cypress, with the number of opportunities we had, I wasn't that impressed. But there was more passing last night, and those are the kinds of goals that you like to see, when somebody's not being selfish."

On the defensive side of the ball, goalie Tony Restino (who allowed an average of just 0.7 goals per game last season) is widely considered one of the top netminders in the region and may get the bulk of the recognition, but an experienced defense in front of the junior goalie should make it tougher for him to burn off all that pre-game Italian cuisine.

His brother, senior sweeper Joey Restino, along with fellow co-captain Andy Satowiak, will anchor a veteran unit that will only get better as the season progresses. Second-year defensive starters Nate Wittrock, Cody Hunt and Scott Wheeler all return for Robinson's defense, which should provide added leadership for the coach's young crop of forwards.

"These kids are leaders on the field, but also in the school," Robinson said of his three senior captains, Joey Restino, Satowiak and Stewart. "They set a good example for the younger kids, they're very coachable, and they all have a lot of pride in their school."

The coach said that he expects some stiff competition from district rivals North Fort Myers (Estero's victim in Friday's 1-0 home win), Fort Myers (whom the Wildcats face Dec. 5) and Mariner (Dec. 9).

"Our district is tough, and those teams will be a close battle for us," said Robinson, whose team played Gulf Coast Monday and will return to action following the Thanksgiving break with a Dec. 1 matchup with Riverdale. "But I think it's wide open. Mariner's lost a lot of players, but I think the word around town is that we're the team to beat."

Contact Sports Editor Dana Oppedisano at 213-6045 or doppedisano@naplesnews.com