Marc Narducci: DeSesso brings acrobatic skill to net
Pennsauken soccer goalie DaQuan DeSesso is among the most acrobatic goalies around, which comes from his background as a gymnastics performer and teacher. Maybe his most impressive feat was stumbling into the position, one that he hasn't played for long.
Pennsauken soccer goalie DaQuan DeSesso is among the most acrobatic goalies around, which comes from his background as a gymnastics performer and teacher. Maybe his most impressive feat was stumbling into the position, one that he hasn't played for long.
DeSesso more than held his own against one of South Jersey's top keepers as Pennsauken beat visiting Bishop Eustace, 3-1 on Monday in an interdivisional Olympic Conference game.
Eustace keeper Tyler Miller, a Northwestern recruit, was an Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey performer as a junior.
Miller allowed two goals against Pennsauken, both on breakaways, and then got the rest of the game off as Eustace substituted liberally.
Eustace appeared as if it was content to use the game as a tune-up. Pennsauken, played to win and it showed.
And with DeSesso, winning is always a possibility for an Indians team that has set a goal of 10 victories and is almost there with a 9-8-1 mark.
Quickness and anticipation are both two traits that DeSesso exhibits in goal. Wait until he gets some experience.
He has only been playing the position since his sophomore year, when he was the JV keeper, and has been on varsity the last two years.
"I'd take him over anybody in South Jersey," said Pennsauken coach Bill Snyder, who admittedly is biased but could have some company if more people see DeSesso play.
Colleges are starting to come around. DeSesso says that Temple, Philadelphia University, Caldwell and Rider are among the schools he has talked to.
Anybody recruiting him would have to see there is some upside, simply because DeSesso has been playing the position less than three years.
"I'm still growing as a goalie as I get more experience," he said.
DeSesso, who also is an outfielder with a gun for an arm in baseball, was persuaded to play goalie by his good friend and fellow Pennsauken senior Dominic Rodriguez.
Rodriguez should know a good goalie when he sees one because he has ruined many a day for keepers throughout South Jersey.
He scored twice on Monday, increasing his total to 18 after scoring 19 last season. Ibrahim Kanneh scored the first goal for the Indians.
"You could see he had the reactions," Rodriguez said. "I thought he would make a good goalie, and he has."
DeSesso said he was only an average field player.
Maybe it's because in the field, he wasn't able to dive the way he does in goal, doing it in an artful way.
"I teach gymnastics and used to perform and I love to dive and flip," he said.
An example came with Pennsauken leading 2-0 midway through the second half. Eustace's Ben Keane had a header from right in front of the goal that appeared headed to the back of the net, until DeSesso extended his body and blocked the shot.
"He made some nice saves," Miller said. "I thought he did a very good job."
DeSesso admits that playing against Miller provided extra motivation.
"It gets me pumped up, going up against one of the best goalies," he said.
And that is a reaction goalies facing Pennsauken should also have in facing the Indians' tumbling shot saver.
Bishop Eustace 0 1 - 1
Pennsauken 1 2 - 3
Goals: B-Ernest Devincenzo. P-Ibrahim Kanneh, Dominic Rodriguez 2. Saves: B-Tyler Miller 4, Vincent Maiorino 2; P-DaQuan DeSesso 10.