Roman's soccer team has leaders at both ends

AS THE SIDELINE throw-in sailed through the air, Roman Catholic senior forward Brandon Gutekunst stood by the goal post, waiting to make his move.

With Roman and La Salle tied and less than 10 minutes remaining Tuesday, Gutekunst jumped in the air, flicked his head and lifted the ball over the outstretched arms of the La Salle goalkeeper.

The goal propelled Roman Catholic to its seventh win in seven games and fourth win in Philadelphia Catholic League play.

"The guy we want with the ball is Brandon," volunteer coach Mark Casasanto said. "As a team, they feel more comfortable with him on the ball. Everyone has to have that guy."

Gutekunst is the leader of Roman's offense, which has scored 32 goals, including 20 in Catholic League play. Gutekunst's six goals are tied for second on the team and he leads the team with four assists.

"I try not to let my team down," said Gutekunst, one of the team's four captains. "I go out and play hard every day and try to get the win."

Gutekunst has spent four years on varsity, but not all were as a forward.

As a sophomore, Gutekunst was named All-Catholic first team as a defender. Last season, he was the first non-senior named captain under head coach Ray DeStephanis and switched to forward, where he again received All-Catholic first-team honors.

"(His transition) was very seamless," DeStephanis said. "Not too many kids can do it in their life. He's just one of those special kids that can make that transition."

As Gutekunst leads the offense, senior goalkeeper Mark Tobin, one of the other captains, commands the defense from the penalty area.

Last season, Tobin totaled 11 shutouts for the Cahillites and allowed more than one goal once in 20 games. His work between the pipes earned him a spot on the All-Catholic first team.

In 2015, Tobin has stopped 15 of the 18 shots he has faced and has allowed one goal in league play. In seven games, Tobin has four shutouts and has not allowed more than one goal in a game.

"We got that guy in net," Casasanto said. "It's a win-win for all of us. He's a hard worker and dedicated to his craft. Some of these 'keepers in the past would just show up and get in net."

"Tobin commands the box, which he didn't (do) as a freshman or JV," DeStephanis said. "People don't want to come in the box against him because he reads the game so well."

This season, Tobin has received help from John McCarthy, his cousin and goalkeepers coach who happens to play the position for the Union.

After spending 2014 with the Rochester Rhinos, of the United Soccer League, the North Catholic High School and La Salle University graduate joined the Roman coaching staff and began training with Tobin four days a week.

"My game has definitely gotten better with the help of John," Tobin said. "He's helped me a lot. He's always willing to help."

In addition to working with Tobin on the intricacies of being a goalkeeper, McCarthy emphasized the importance of being a leader to Tobin.

"He's a quiet kid, so I told him to work on his communication and instructions," McCarthy said. "Not just yelling and screaming at people. The more instruction he gives, the less shots he will see and the happier he will be."

"I kind of talked a little bit, but once my cousin John started helping me, I talked more," Tobin said. "I started giving out more instructions instead of yelling out."

With Tobin, who Casasanto called the team's "harbor master," becoming a leader this season, the dichotomy created between Gutekunst and Tobin, who play travel soccer together on Philadelphia Soccer Club Coppa, has manifested on the field.

"You have a leader up front in Brandon, a quiet kid who leads," McCarthy said. "But you have Tobin in the back, who is a talkative leader. That's what you need."

With last season's 13-4-3 record and a 1-0 overtime loss to Archbishop Wood in the Catholic League title game fresh in his mind, Tobin wants to avoid a repeat of the 2014 heartbreak.

"I think that builds up," Tobin said. "We need to take the final step and hopefully good things will come out of it."