Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Franklin Regional’s Dom Kaforey

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, October 16, 2023 | 11:45 AM

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Franklin Regional’s boys soccer team ended last season with a 2-1 loss to Montour in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs.

This year, the team that has been consistently good year after year knows it can make it further in the postseason.

Center back Dom Kaforey wants to make sure his last experiences as a Panther are positive. He and the rest of the Panthers are motivated as they head toward the playoffs.

“Lots of the team wants to make up for what happened last year and get back into being a deep-playoff-run team,” Kaforey said.

The Panthers were 9-5 overall this year, 8-4 in the section, through Oct. 9, putting them in third place.

They dropped a 1-0 matchup to a Plum team that was undefeated in section play and had several other close losses to section opponents.

With just a few games to go in the regular season, Kaforey said he had the utmost confidence in this team.

“We have a team capable of being top of the section, but we are just now finding our groove this late in the season,” he said. “Aside from section play, I think we have players very motivated and capable of making a run in the playoffs.”

As a center back, Kaforey plays a large role in the defensive side of things, and consequently, the five shutouts the team has so far this year.

“I’m very impressed with our defense this year. They all handle pressure very well, and it’s impressive how well they have acclimated to the position,” Kaforey said. “We switched from a three-back to a four-back (formation) a little over halfway through the season. As we get used to it, we play a lot better and think we are becoming a harder team to finish against.”

The Panthers don’t have many seniors this year, so Kaforey takes his role in leadership to heart.

“I try to control the game from the back of the field and help younger kids get acclimated to high school soccer and improve,” Kaforey said. “I am pretty tough on them, especially during games and practices, just so I can get them to do the best they can do.”

On top of the experience in high school, Kaforey had a chance to play for the 05 BVB International Academy Premier team in Florida at the United States Youth Soccer National Championship Series in July.

Junior Joey Bayne, senior Aryan Selokar and junior Noah Walker participated in that tournament with Kaforey.

Amid the final stretch of the season, Kaforey took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with soccer?

I got started with soccer when I was around 6 years old. My brother started to play a few years beforehand, and I usually copied whatever he did, so I took it up and stuck with it ever since.

What are your goals for the team the rest of this season?

I would like us to win the rest of our section games and get mentally prepped for playoffs. Postseason, I would like to be an impactful team. Even if we don’t win WPIALs, I want our team to make a run and knock some teams out that we aren’t expected to.

Can you explain your role on the team?

Center back is my main position, among other defensive ones like wing back. My role on the team is someone to be a rock in the back. I organize everyone around the field and help the other defenders to manage against whoever they are playing.

What kind of an experience was the Florida nationals tournament?

Nationals was a great experience for me. It had some of the best players I’ve ever played against and helped to increase my level of play. The teams in high school are not up to that level, so it helps me to be a very strong core player at the high school level.

What is one thing that people may not know about you?

I’m really good at cooking. It’s my favorite thing to do aside from playing soccer.

Tags: Franklin Regional