Boys soccer preview: Behind Justin Lazzaretti, Wadsworth has big goals

Coming off the deepest tournament run in program history, the Wadsworth boys soccer team is out to prove that wasn't a flash in the pan. Offensively, the key to maintaining that success starts with versatile returning leading scorer Justin Lazzaretti. "We have some high expectations coming into this season," Lazzaretti said. "We did well last year and only lost three starters. We're looking forward to having a good season and hopefully getting back to and maybe even winning the regional finals." Grizzlies coach John Johnson pointed to Lazzaretti's passion for winning and the tone he sets as a senior leader. The commitment to improvement was taken to another level this summer. "He'll lead by example more than he will vocally," Johnson said. "He goes out and does his business on the field. Because he's a senior, our other underclassmen forwards should look at him and say, 'This is how I play, this is how I make a successful run, this is how I receive with my back to the goal.'" Unlike last season, when he needed to score 12 goals over the last 13 games to reach a team-high 13 scores, Lazzaretti wants to hit the ground running. That starts tonight in a non-league match with Barberton. Games continue with Medina County rival Brunswick and John Marshall next week before opening league play in the meatgrinder that is the Suburban League National Conference. "I started off a little slow with only one goal in the first seven games (last season)," Lazzaretti said. "I picked it up. I want to come out in this season strong and do my best. A personal goal of mine is to have 30 goals plus assists this season." After beginning last season on the wing, Lazzaretti moved to forward in part due to a knee injury to fellow incoming senior Kyle Nagel, which occurred in a 2-0 win over Medina. Nagel didn't return until the regional finals, a 4-0 loss to eventual Division II state runner-up Walsh Jesuit. "We tried to play him out wide last year at the beginning of the season, but that wasn't the exact fit for (Lazzaretti)," Johnson said. "We knew he could play up top, but we were trying to find the right fit for the entire program. The right fit was to play Justin up top." The game against the Warriors was a lot closer than the final score appeared, as Walsh Jesuit scored three goals in the final 15 minutes after Wadsworth starting goalie Caden Taylor was injured. That loss was as much a motivating factor for Lazzaretti and his teammates as the success of a 2-1 victory over Toledo St. Francis de Sales that sent the Grizzlies into their first regional final. Lazzaretti scored the game-winner on a header off a corner kick by Diego Montoya. "We were all excited going into the regional final, and then we were let down a little bit," Lazzaretti said. "I feel like that is motivating us as we go into this season. We're ready. We just want each other do well and succeed as a team." In addition to being a dangerous scorer — whether that's starting with his back to the ball, finishing with either foot or taking a header — Lazzaretti's game has continued to evolve with an increased rate of getting his teammates involved in the scoring third. "What I've seen this summer is his ability to combine with the other forwards is tremendous," Johnson said. "That just opens things up. "He's going to be a marked person. Some people are going to come down on him, but his ability to combine with other players should give him space to get the ball back." Team success is what drives Lazzaretti, who is focused on living in the moment and not overthinking about his plans after graduation. "We have to trust and rely on one another," he said. "It's a team game and it all builds up from our keeper and defense to the midfield and then to scoring goals. It takes all of us. Even people at practice that don't get as much playing time as they want, we're still all getting each other better." Still, the Grizzlies will need Lazzaretti to be at his best to reach their lofty goals. "He's not arrogant, but he's got confidence in himself when he's got the ball and his ability to do things," Johnson said. "That's what I've really seen evolve over the last couple of years. Now he's going to be the guy up top that people are looking for." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.