Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMSOC | Former forward Arena finds way onto field at left back
By Tony Olivero
Posted: 10/9/08, 8:32 PM EST Section: Sports
The roots of Arena's transition reach much further just his time last year at SU. While in high school, Arena and Winston Churchill (Md.) High School head coach Dave Kelley recognized the possibilities.
"I always felt Justin was suited to play as an outside fullback in large part because of his raw athletic abilities," Kelley said. "Along with his athleticism Justin is very much a left-sided player with a very good left foot, and he's most comfortable playing on the outside of the field where he can attack and defend on the left flank."
Kelly, who Arena recognized as, "the first person who told me when I was a forward that I could be a good left back," also added that Arena showed signs in high school that pointed toward future promise as a defender.
Colin Haggerty, a freshman defender for the Orange and teammate of Arena at Winston Churchill, concurred with Kelly's observation.
"For the most part, he played forward in high school," Haggerty said. "Eventually, in certain games, he would come back on defense to hold the lead."
And Arena has plenty of time ahead of him to continue to progress at left back. Foti's looking forward to it.
"Justin is an all-around good kid and student," Foti said. "He is a good player and epitomizes the type of kids we look for and try to get in our program. He is young and his best playing is ahead of him."
aolivero@syr.edu
"I always felt Justin was suited to play as an outside fullback in large part because of his raw athletic abilities," Kelley said. "Along with his athleticism Justin is very much a left-sided player with a very good left foot, and he's most comfortable playing on the outside of the field where he can attack and defend on the left flank."
Kelly, who Arena recognized as, "the first person who told me when I was a forward that I could be a good left back," also added that Arena showed signs in high school that pointed toward future promise as a defender.
Colin Haggerty, a freshman defender for the Orange and teammate of Arena at Winston Churchill, concurred with Kelly's observation.
"For the most part, he played forward in high school," Haggerty said. "Eventually, in certain games, he would come back on defense to hold the lead."
And Arena has plenty of time ahead of him to continue to progress at left back. Foti's looking forward to it.
"Justin is an all-around good kid and student," Foti said. "He is a good player and epitomizes the type of kids we look for and try to get in our program. He is young and his best playing is ahead of him."
aolivero@syr.edu
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