The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Kyle Cusimano enjoying breakout season for Bay
Everyone knows about Bay star Cade Gergye.
Gergye, a first-team All-Ohio athlete and 2017 Morning Journal Co-Player of the Year, is the face of Bay’s program.
But little did people know about his teammate, junior Kyle Cusimano. Now they do. Cusimano has erupted in 2018, scoring 32 goals and 16 assists, according to the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association website.
Coach Bobby Dougherty moved Cusimano up top after playing back last season — and it’s paid off.
“I’ve grown a lot,” Cusimano said. “I’ve also gotten a lot more chances at goal playing up top. And playing with someone like Cade who gives me the ball whenever I need it, it makes it real easy on me.”
Cusimano scored a pair of goals in a 4-2 regional semifinal win over Lexington on Oct. 31, including a goal in the first five minutes. Bay faces Kenton on Nov. 3 in the Division II, Region 6 final at Perkins High School for a noon kickoff.
“Cujo (Cusimano) has just been on,” Dougherty said. “He actually hasn’t been able to just tuck one away early, and it was nice of him to finish it off early.”
If Gergye is the face of the program, Cusimano
has perfected the complementary role. They’ve only played with each other for three years, but the chemistry is impeccable.
Gergye has 29 goals and 31 assists. If someone would have told Cusimano that both he and Gergye would perform like this, he would have only half believed you.
“I knew Cade would have another great year,” Cusimano said. “But for me, no way. I’ve never been a scorer like this my entire life. It’s
been a complete shock to me.”
Cusimano’s parents, Jay and Jennifer, got him into soccer. He used to play baseball and basketball, but his full commitment is on the pitch.
He’s expressed interest in playing soccer in college.
“This sport means so much,” Cusimano added. “It gives me something to look forward to going to practice every day, and without I don’t know what
I’ll do. I’d be so bored.”
Cusimano’s Rockets are tied at No. 1 in the state with St. Francis DeSales, which they lost to last season in the D-II state final, 4-0.
But Cusimano believes this year’s team is better.
“We’re much more technical,” he said. “We can play with those teams who are better than us instead of relying on our physical abilities.”
The relationship he’s built with Dougherty goes beyond soccer. Dougherty is like a father-figure to his players.
It’s one of the reasons Cusimano wants to deliver a state championship.
“We talk to him like he’s family,” Cusimano said. “We always go to his class, hang out and it’s fun. My No. 1 priority right now is to win a state championship and hoist that banner up in our gym. It would mean so much to the alumni, to us and the community. It’d be amazing.”