Boys Soccer – VOTE: Weeks 2 and 3 Players of the Week

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Some off-the-field circumstances delayed the Week 2 Player of the Week contest but it did not eliminate it. After missing last week, the Week 3 Player of the Week is a blowout that will combine the best performances and performers of the last two weeks.

While the usual Player of the Week recognizes eight players, this week's doubles up for 16, including two players in each of the six Shore Conference divisions and four wild cards instead of only two.

As for the voting, it will still be one vote per hour, but the top two vote-getters will be recognized as the Weeks 2 and 3 Players of the Week. Get in your votes before the deadline on Thursday at 10 p.m.

Class A North Players of the Week

Dylan Cupo, CBA

Cupo was a constant for CBA over the past two weeks, scoring two goals in a hard-fought win over Freehold Township and later scoring a late goal in a 3-1 win over Marlboro as the Colts ran their Class A North record to 5-0.

R.J. Eckelman, Howell

On back-to-back days, Eckelman assisted a goal in a 2-1 loss to Manalapan, then posted a hat trick in a 4-0 win against Middletown North.

Honorable Mention: Anthony Vasquez, Long Branch; Ryan Barnao, Middletown North; Anthony Sarkisov, Manalapan; Ryan Jerome, Middletown South; Dylan Cupo, CBA; Logan Simon, Marlboro; Chris Osorio-Rodriguez, Howell; Chris Lopez, Long Branch; Eduardo Ribiero, Long Branch; Dylan Millevoi, CBA; Noah Jones, Freehold Twp.; Will Thygeson, CBA; Jake Homowitz, CBA; Eduardo Ribiero, Long Branch; Josh Hocheiser, Freehold Twp.; J.T. Gold, Freehold Twp.; Travis Soto, Middletown North

Class A Central Players of the Week

Alec Pentikis, Rumson-Fair Haven

Pentikis went scoreless during the first week of the season and has been on a tear since. In Rumson’s last five games, the junior striker has scored seven goals, including two-goal games against both Red Bank and Monmouth. Pantikis also scored one each vs. Holmdel, Brick Memorial and Middletown North.

Aidan Tisony, Ocean

Like Pentikis, Tisony scored seven goals over the past two weeks. In Tisony’s case, those seven goals game in three multi-goal games. The senior put up a hat trick in the first 11 minutes of Ocean’s 4-0 win over Neptune, then scored two each in wins over Raritan and Red Bank in which he also racked up a combined three assists.

Honorable Mention: Archeley Eugene, Ocean; Mike Reid, Ocean; Luke Pentikis, Rumson-Fair Haven; Nick DiNapoli, Shore; Andy Sanchez, Monmouth; Anthony Cano, Monmouth; J.C. Gutierrez, Shore; Kaan Pehlivan, Monmouth; Christian Condon, Red Bank Catholic; Ronan Hogg, Rumson-Fair Haven; Brendan Worobel, Holmdel; Brian Miranda, Ocean; Prabhnoor Singh, Monmouth; Maxx Eichenbaum, Shore; David Barham, Shore

Class A South Players of the Week

Jayson Nardone, Brick

Nardone found the back of the net in a 4-2 loss to a Shore-ranked Toms River East squad, then went off for four goals in a winning effort in a 6-2 Brick win over Point Beach.

Kajus Matazinskas, Toms River East

Toms River East had a number of noteworthy contributors over the past two weeks, with Noah Raimonde putting up a hat trick in a win over Brick and Ryan Kozlej scoring in two of Toms River East’s wins. Matazinskas get the nod with goals in wins over Southern and Jackson Memorial, assisted one in the win over Brick and his goal at Jackson Memorial was a game-winner in the 78th minute.

Honorable Mention: Eddie Candia, Toms River South; Jon Fitzgerald, Toms River South; Noah Raimonde, Toms River East; Mattia Assante, Toms River North; Ryan Kozlej, Toms River East; Pat Schlagenhaft, Brick Memorial; Matt Hoosack, Southern; Kenny Caruso, Toms River South; A.J. Emnace, Toms River North

Class B North Players of the Week

Carlos Guerra, Red Bank

So far, 2021 has been an up-and-down season for Red Bank, which notched a win over Wall and a draw with Rumson-Fair Haven in consecutive games before failing to beat Neptune (loss), Freehold Boro (tie) and Ocean (loss). Guerra was made a major factor for Red Bank in its more positive results, scoring both goals in the huge 2-1 win over that ended the Crimson Knights’ 26-game unbeaten streak and later chipping in one in the 2-2 draw vs. Rumson and two more in a 2-2 tie vs. Freehold Boro.

Ernst Louisius, Neptune

In six games over the past two weeks, Louisius has put up five goals and four assists while helping the Scarlet Fliers go 4-2. The junior went for a goal and two assists in a win over St. John Vianney, posted two goals and an assist in a win over Red Bank, then scored the game-winner in the 76th minute of a 1-0 win over previously-unbeaten Point Boro.

Honorable Mention: David Tuschmann, Colts Neck; Johnny Troiano, St. John Vianney; Emmett Aravich, Wall; Terence Byrnes, Wall; Matt Karolak, Manasquan; Kevian Kraemer, Manasquan; Matt Murphy, Wall; Lee Petrowski, Neptune; Mike Cafiero, Manasquan; Tom Samaras, Colts Neck; Dan Burns, Wall; Andrew Martins-Mahoney, Matawan; Vishal Rahjmathan, Freehold Boro; Danny Herndon, St. John Vianney

Class B Central Players of the Week

Colin Westhoven, St. Rose

St. Rose played only two games over the last two weeks and Westhoven scored two goals in two of them. The senior contributed two goals in a 15-1 win over Mater Dei, then scored twice more to give the Purple Roses a 2-0 lead on Point Boro before the Panthers rallied for a 3-2 win.

Lorenzo Cabana, Ranney

Cabana scored a goal in each of Ranney’s two wins over the past two weeks – one over Mater Dei Prep and another over St. John Vianney. The goal vs. St. John Vianney was the overtime game-winner in a big 3-2 Panthers win.

Honorable Mention: Lorenzo Cabana, Ranney; Diego Nieves, St. Rose; Elvis Gonzalez, Henry Hudson; Hayden Kurdes, Henry Hudson; Josh Boyan, Point Beach

Class B South Players of the Week

Alexander Granda, Lakewood

After losing its opener, Lakewood went 4-1 over the past two weeks and Granda scored six goals in those five games with at least one in all of them. He scored one each in wins over Donovan Catholic (2-1), Keyport (4-0) and Henry Hudson (4-2) and went off for a hat trick in a 4-3 win over Barnegat.

James Cahill, Pinelands

Along with teammate Stephen DeMilio, Cahill is already up to 10 goals this season – eight of which have come during the last two weeks. Cahill logged hat tricks on both Sept. 14 and Sept. 24, first against Barnegat and again against Ranney. The senior also scored one each in a win over Jackson Liberty and a loss vs. Lacey while also tabbing four assists over the last five games.

Honorable Mention: Owen Edwards, Manchester; Stephen DeMilio, Pinelands; Kody Besser, Lacey; Muberaq Aderogba, Manchester; Bryan Cardoso, Lacey; Jared Elliott, Point Boro; Jeff Thompson, Point Boro; Chase Norling, Point Boro; Charles Latendorf, Point Boro; Logan Gross, Lacey; Ethan Riley, Lacey; Matteo Musmanni, Lacey; Schuyler Joidice, Barnegat; Jimmy Cappucci, Jackson Liberty; Elton Canka, Jackson Liberty; Flavio Garista, Lakewood; Fernando Osorio, Lakewood; Connor Yurgel, Jackson Liberty

Wild Cards

Matt Murphy, Wall

Murphy has scored seven goals in eight games and, perhaps more impressively, has scored in six of the eight Wall games. Over the last two weeks, Murphy has scored in five of the six matches, a golden goal vs. Southern, an equalizer in a draw vs. St. John Vianney, the lone Wall goal in a loss to Red Bank and the capper in a 2-0 win over Toms River East on Saturday.

Nick DiNapoli, Shore

DiNapoli treated the Catholic schools rudely in three games against them – all Shore wins. The junior scored two goals to go with two assists against both Red Bank Catholic and Donovan Catholic and also added an assist in a 4-3 win over St. John Vianney.

Anthony Cano, Monmouth

A versatile sophomore, Cano showed off his scoring touch and passing ability over during a busy two-week, seven-game stretch. Monmouth went 5-1-1 in those seven games and Cano scored or assisted a goal in all five wins to finish with four goals and two assists during the two-week period.

Johnny Troiano, St. John Vianney

While St. John Vianney’s 2-4-1 record is not especially impressive, the Lancers have lost four games decided by one goal and boast one of the Shore’ most dynamic scorers in Troiano. The senior leads the Shore Conference with 12 goals and 10 of them game over the last two weeks, spanning six games. He scored two goals each in losses to Ranney and Shore, put in one apiece in ties vs. Matawan and Wall, and erupted for four in a 6-0 win over Red Bank Catholic.