Boys soccer experiences coaching change midway through their season

Boys soccer head coach Mia Onodera announced that she would be stepping down during a lunchtime meeting with the team on Jan. 18.

Onodera had been coaching the varsity team since the 2007-2008 school year, and before that coached the junior varsity team for the 2006-2007 school year.

Assistant coaches Jenna Smith and Pooya Hajjarian, who joined the varsity boys soccer coaching staff at the beginning of the season, will be asked to retain their roles, and athletic director Jeff Mueller will be serving as head coach, according to Dean of Students Michael Hicks.

“I was taken by surprise,” Onodera said. “Yes, our record wasn’t very good, but as I had indicated before, I thought we were on the right track, we were doing the right things. We were just a little unlucky in hitting the post that many times. They got a second win in [so hopefully] they can finish the season strong.”

In league play, the boys soccer team is currently 1-4-0, with the one victory coming from a 4-2 over Lynbrook on Jan. 21 with goals from captain senior Josh LeFevre, freshman Will Major, and sophomore Jacob Feit.

Mueller, Smith, and Hajjarian have all declined to comment regarding the situation.

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