Boys Soccer – Marchiano Notches School Shutout Record as Holmdel Captures CJ 2 Crown

Holmdel coach John Nacarlo knows a sectional championship team when he sees one, having led Holmdel to three straight from 2010 to 2012 and four overall in his tenure as head coach.

As for this year's team, during the celebration Friday following a 1-0 win over No. 2 seed Bordentown in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II final, he still could hardly believed it happened again this year.

Freshman Joe Arena scored five minutes into the game and the No. 9 seed Hornets blanked the Scotties to win their fourth sectional title in the last six years and fifth in the last 10.

After ending each of the last two seasons in penalty kicks - once in the sectional semifinals against Delran in 2013 and again to Governor Livingston in last year's Central Jersey Group II final - Holmdel (12-6-5) made it back to the sectional final for the fifth time in six years and capped its run of four straight road wins with a championship performance.

"One of the guys on the bus said, 'I can't believe we just did what last year's group couldn't,'" Nacarlo said. "I just said, 'Because you guys are a team.' I found myself thinking the same thing because we were so talented last year, but this is such a tight-knit group that plays hard for one another. And it's still a really young team."

The Hornets jumped out in front off a Nick Guga corner kick that was deflected to the far post. Dylan Chapman headed the ball back to toward the front of the goal, where Arena volleyed it into the side netting.

The Holmdel defense kept the Bordentown (16-3-1) attack away from goalkeeper Tyler Marchiano, who recorded his 31st career shutout to set a new school record.

Holmdel will play South Jersey champion Delran on Tuesday at St. Augustine High School at 5 p.m. The two programs will meet for the fourth straight season in the NJSIAA Tournament, with Holmdel winning the matchup in 2012 and the teams trading penalty kick victories on the road over the past two seasons. Delran beat Holmdel in penalty kicks in the 2013 sectional semifinals and the Hornets returned the favor in last year's sectional quarterfinal.