Every little brother knows the feeling – chasing someone faster, stronger, and more experienced, all while dreaming of one day stepping out of their shadow. This season, Harrison’s JV soccer team lived that story, and following Varsity’s lead, the JV team had a season to remember.
The Varsity squad turned in an outstanding season, finishing with a record of 9-2-2 and bringing home the section 1 championship. This year’s Harrison JV boys soccer team turned in a remarkable campaign of its own, finishing with a 10-1-3 record. Under the steady guidance of Coach John Florez, the JV Huskies demonstrated resilience, teamwork, and a relentless will to win that defined their year from start to finish.
Headlined by captains Emiliano Huerta and Matteo Guaraglia, the roster was packed with standout sophomores who embodied the core values of the Harrison soccer program: camaraderie, humility, and discipline. Much of the team’s success stemmed from its lockdown defense, anchored by center backs Huerta and Joshua Rosado, left back Joey Longoborti, and right back Assahi Maehara. Between the posts, freshman sensation Benji Danziger delivered an outstanding season, providing confidence behind the back line. Together, their communication and chemistry turned defense into offense and was the core foundation for the team’s success.
When asked about the unit’s dominance, Huerta credited the group’s unity: “I believe that the unity in our defense has really helped us succeed. Alone, we’re all great players, but together we are unstoppable. Coach has really emphasized communication, and that is why we succeed. But we are definitely not perfect and can always improve. Next year, we need to do a better job in playing out the back and challenging 50/50s more often.” Emiliano’s leadership and drive for perfection proved contagious, setting the tone for the entire squad.
In the midfield and up top, the Huskies’ offensive firepower was just as impressive. Center midfielders Matteo Guaraglia, Graham Eskrett, and Shuzo Kojima dictated the tempo, while Eduardo Ribeiro, Lima Servio, and Shunnoske Uramoto attacked from the wings, feeding striker Taisei Niijima. Leading the team in total points this season was Kojima, tallying an impressive 6 goals and 4 assists.
Kojima credited the team’s collective mindset for the Huskies’ success: “Our success this season comes from our collective commitment and preparation. During practices, all players perform at an extremely high level, and the competition within our squad pushes everyone to get better. We focus on our skills and drown out the outside noise – that is why we succeed.”
The depth and internal competition proved crucial all season. Midfielders Dylan Montaquiza, Daniel Costa, and Lucas Behrens were key contributors, often adding a tremendous spark off the bench. In a memorable early-season matchup against White Plains, with several starters unavailable, Montaquiza and Behrens stepped up, with each contributing goals in a 2–0 victory. The win perfectly embodied the “next man up” mentality that defined the Huskies’ season.
Much of the team’s mindset traces back to Coach John, whose energy and enthusiasm were contagious and fueled the team’s success. With a deep and talented roster of more than 30 players, finding playing time for everyone was no easy task. But Coach John found ways to help each athlete grow and contribute, even when they weren’t on the field. Reflecting on the season, he credited three pillars for the team’s achievements: Structure, Belief, and Realism.“As a soccer community, we have built a strong structure each day. By assigning captain roles and rotating equipment duties, each player recognizes that they are part of a team and not just an individual.” Coach John also explained, “Belief has carried us through tough moments. As a team, we never backed down from a challenge. Even in games when we were losing, we always believed that we were going to win. And realism, with a roster this big, everyone needs to know the role they play in the team’s success. For some players, that means finding the back of the net; for others, that means getting other players better each day during practice.”
Although they fell just short of perfection, the JV Huskies’ 2025 season was nothing short of dominant. After months of sweat, sacrifice, and last-minute thrillers, one thing is clear – the future of Harrison soccer is in great hands. Watch out, Varsity, “little bro” is ready to play.
