Boys Soccer – 2018 Preview: Class B Central

In predicted order of finish

Point Pleasant Beach

Head Coach: Mike Baiata, seventh season
2017 Record: 11-8 (9-3, second in Class B Central)
Returners: Ki Costa (Sr., Midfield), Ryan Brodeur (Sr., Midfield), Alex Atno (Sr., Forward), Adam DiPasquale (Sr., Defense), Francesco Crivelli (Sr., Defense), Ben Glass (Sr., Midfield), Eric Monticello (Sr., Goalkeeper), Luke Marcoux (Sr., Defense), Alex Osorio (Sr., Midfield), Matt Adao (Jr., Defense), Dylan Apportella (So., Goalkeeper)
Key Losses: Mike Ciorlian (Forward), Danny Savage (Forward), Jake Laduca (Defense), Andrew Garrow (Midfield), George Kaiafas (Midfield)
Newcomers: Gio Touriuzzi (Sr.), Will Campbell (Sr., Defense), Will Solcito (Sr.), Will Baranello (Jr., Defense), Braden Niebling (Jr., Midfield), Owen Marcoux (Jr., Defense/Midfield), Tom Decristofanno (So., Midfield), Justin Mazzatta (So., Midfield), Rowan Doyle (So., Goalkeeper), Tanner Curtis (Fr., Midfield/Forward), Luke Zylinski (Fr., Defense/Midfield)

With 20-goal scorer Ki Costa returning and two more proven scorers alongside him in Alex Atno and Ryan Brodeur, Point Beach appears set up for a strong showing in 2018. The Garnet Gulls will have to replace a defensive leader in Jake LaDuca and some scoring volume up top in Mike Ciorlian and Danny Savage, but the return of the Costa-Atno-Brodeur trio, plus some quality defenders like Adam DiPasquale, Francesco Crivelli and Luke Marcoux coming back in front of three-year starter in goal Eric Monticello is a very solid base.

The Garnet Gulls have been slowly building toward another Class B Central championship since their last one in 2013 and their progress might have gone somewhat unnoticed because of how good Asbury Park has been over the past two years. Point Beach has played Asbury tough over the past couple of seasons and with a lot of talent graduating off the two-time defending champions’ roster, Point Beach is in the best position to pounce.

St. Rose

Head Coach: Brian Pringle, fifth season
2017 Record: 9-11-1 (8-3-1, third in Class B Central)
Returners: Jonathan Caputo (Sr., Midfield), Evan Walters (Sr., Midfield), Matt Forlenza (Sr., Midfield), Jake Dempsey (Jr., Defense), Nick Forlano (Sr., Goalkeeper), Christian Riozzi-Bodine (So., Forward), Mike Mahon (Sr.), Timmy Schall (Sr.), Joe Blaes (Sr.), Chris Clayton (Sr.), Luke Fahy (Sr.), Mike Robedee (Sr.), Matt Kirkpatrick (So.)
Key Losses: Dave Calloway (Sr., Forward), Ethan Riozzi-Bodine (Sr., Forward), Michael Yuschak (Sr., Midfield), Ethan Tombs (Sr., Midfield), Carter Vanderslice (Sr., Goalkeeper), Dave Santos (Sr., Forward),
Newcomers: Morgan Fahy (So.), Matt DeLuca (Jr.)

Photo by Steve Meyer.

As usual, St. Rose figures to be right in the thick of the Class B Central hunt thanks to a quality core of talent returning as seniors in a division that appears to be a little more up-for-the-taking this season. Evan Walters was a breakout player for St. Rose as a junior last year and he returns to the midfield with senior classmate Jonathan Caputo, who battled through some injuries as a junior. Matt Forlenza is a three-year starter and sophomore Christian Riozzi-Bodine showed some scoring touch as a freshman last year.

Defender keeper Nick Forlano and the goal will be St. Rose’s x-factor in its pursuit of the program’s first Class B Central title since 2010, when the Roses also won the Non-Public B championship. The Purple Roses will once again play a commendable schedule outside the division and now that there are only six games on the slate against B Central competition, beating some non-division opponents is a must for St. Rose’s postseason prospects.

Ranney

Head Coach: Donny Gray, first season
2017 Record: 4-11-1 (4-7-1, fourth in Class B Central)
Returners: Ademola Odunlami (Sr., Forward), Greyson Kellner (Sr., Midfield), Anthony Virone (Jr., Goalkeeper)
Key Losses: Marc Greenstein (Sr., Forward)
Newcomers: Charlie McCann (Fr., Midfield)

Fomer Toms River South and Rutgers standout Donny Gray is taking over the program after two years as an assistant and will try to help the Panthers push their way into B Central contention in the not-so-distant future. Ranney returns one of the division’s top scorers in Ademola Odunlami (10 goals in 2017), who is heading into his four season as a starter at the varsity level.

Senior Greyson Kellner has also been a regular contributor in his four years and junior goalkeeper Anthony Virone is coming off a strong showing in his first season as a starter. Freshman Charlie McCann is among the impact newcomers who can give the Panthers a lift right away and keep them moving toward the goal of eventually overtaking teams like Point Beach, St. Rose and Asbury Park for a division title.

Asbury Park

Head Coach: Felix Flavian, first season (sixth overall)
2017 Record: 15-5-1 (11-1-0, first in Class B Central)
Returners: Wenderlens Garius (Sr., Midfield), Woodley Caglius (So., Goalkeeper), Jordi Gonzalez (Sr., Defense), Jesus Ayala (Sr., Defense), Cesar Elivera (Sr., Midfield), Bryan Cruz (So., Midfield)
Key Losses: Davensky Joinvilmar (Sr., Forward/Midfield), Shown Narcisse (Sr., Defense), Widmaier Beaubrun (Sr., Forward/Goalkeeper), Luckenson Joseph (Forward), Jonathan Desulme (Sr., Midfield), Stevenson Jean Baptiste (Sr., Midfield), Jean Osner Pierre (Sr., Forward)
Newcomers: Davenson Joinvilmar (Fr., Forward)

After the most successful two-year stint in the recent history of the program, Asbury Park is undergoing an overhaul ahead of the 2018 season. 10-year head coach Jean Dortissant stepped down and his predecessor, Felix Flavian, will re-assume control of the ship. More importantly, Asbury Park will have to replace scoring dynamo Davensky JoinVilmar, who racked up 46 goals and 34 assists over the past two seasons while leading the Blue Bishops to a Central Jersey Group I title in 2016 and to the sectional final again in 2017. On top of that, Asbury Park also bid farewell to seven other starters and the vast majority of its scoring from last year.

Senior Wenderlens Garius was Shore Sports Network All-Division defender last year and will play in the midfield this season along with senior Cesar Elivera and sophomore Bryan Cruz. Sophomore Woodley Caglius developed nicely as a freshman keeper last year and will have more responsibility this year. JoinVilmar’s younger brother, Davenson, enters the program as a freshman and will give the Blue Bishops a spark on the attack as they look to prove their run can last longer than two years.

Keyport

Head Coach: Brendan Hilliard, fifth season
2017 Record: 5-13 (4-8, tied fifth in Class B Central)
Returners: Breandain Greene (Jr., Midfield/Forward), Zach Budd (Sr., Defense), Kevin Hernandez (So., Forward), Sean Matos (Jr., Midfield/Forward), Jared Sheridan (Jr., Defense/Midfield), Henry Martinez (Sr., Forward), Sal Tornetto (Jr., Defense), Shane Zimmerman (Jr., Defense), Angelo Madrigal (Jr., Midfield), Tyler Maher (Jr., Midfield), Josh Vazquez (Jr., Midfield), Nate Smith (Jr., Midfield), Elliot Gerhard (Jr., Forward), Joe Lanzaro (So., Midfield/Forward), Nabil El Maalem (So., Defense/Midfield), Mustafa Kilic (So., Forward), Javier Hernandez (Jr., Midfield)
Key Losses: Matt Ayala (Goalkeeper)
Newcomers: George Mitchell (Fr., Midfield/Forward), Giovanni Smith (Fr., Defense/Midfield), Alex Bernardino (Fr., Goalkeeper), Tim Connallon (Fr., Goalkeeper), Chris Lopez (Fr.), Nick Salavarria (Fr.)

With unofficially the youngest team in the Shore Conference last season, Keyport gained some ground against the rest of the Class B Central field by picking up four wins in the division. Now the Red Raiders return almost an entire lineup, most of which consists of juniors.

Breandain Greene was one of last year’s breakout performers in the division and sophomore Kevin Hernandez matched him with eight goals during his freshman campaign. Sean Matos is another facilitator on the attack and Zach Budd is the leader on defense, as well as the lone senior in the starting lineup. The incoming group of freshman includes projected goalkeeper Alex Bernardino and with some more contributions from different spots around the field, Keyport could be a surprise team in 2018.

Mater Dei Prep

Head Coach: Anthony Sherlock, second season
2017 Record: 4-13 (4-8, tied fifth in Class B Central)
Returners: A.J. Bruney (Jr., Midfield), Pat Mastro (Jr., Defense), Chris Napoli (Jr., Defense), Aidan Balderose (So., Midfield), Brendan Golding (So., Midfield), Marcone Pessoa (So., Forward), Jeremy Ramos (So., Midfield), Liam Stewart (So., Defense), Christian Szotak (So., Defense), Shane Xiao (Jr., Forward), Iker Lin (So., Defense)
Key Losses: Ryan Baird (Sr., Goalkeeper), Bobby Bialkowski (Sr., Forward), Matt Carrigy (Sr., Forward), Andy Lin (Sr., Midfield), Justin Tumulty (Sr., Defense), Justin Vidal (Sr., Defense), Nick Zajac (Sr., Midfield), Mike Dunne (Sr.)
Newcomers: Johnny Contini (Fr., Forward), Zachary O’Neal (Fr., Forward), Jason Gruber (Fr., Forward), E.J. Ventura (Fr., Forward), Elias Elbroji (Fr., Forward), Matt Kistler (Fr., Midfield), Scott Gomes (Fr., Midfield), David Corbisiero (Fr., Goalkeeper)

Mater Dei will have to replace an all-division goalkeeper and a number of starters who contributed to the scoring and defensive cause, but the Seraphs have a chance to make a statement this season with a young team in a division that will have some teams either trying to climb out of a rebuild or just starting one.

A.J. Bruney and Pat Mastro will be the junior captains on the team, with Bruney manning the midfield and Mastro captaining the defense. Like last year, Mater Dei will run out a collection of freshmen and should be able to build some depth. With no seniors on the roster, any jump in the standings this season would be a major step in the right direction.

Henry Hudson

Head Coach: Matt Mancini, third season
2017 Record: 4-16 (1-11, seventh in Class B Central)
Returners: Odhran King (Sr., Defense), Michael McCahon (Sr., Defense), Liam Hagan (Sr., Goalkeeper), Wind Levybensetton (Sr., Forward), Barrett Bremekamp (Sr., Forward), Jack Sanders (Sr., Midfield), Dade Lynch (Sr., Midfield), Lucas Mednis (Sr., Defense), Theo Qirko (Jr., Midfield), Aidan Casey (Jr., Midfield), Tom Doherty (Jr., Defense), Blaise Cauvin (Jr., Midfield), Casey Haupt (Jr., Midfield), James Crowley (So., Defense)
Newcomers: Brian Bremekamp (Sr., Defense), Alex Eugenio (Fr., Defense)

The Admirals are coming off a last-place finish in B Central after sporting a starting XI with no seniors. They have some ground to make up after winning just one divisional game last year, but Henry Hudson will have a senior influence that only two teams – Point Beach and St. Rose – can boast.

Odhran King is one of the division’s top returning players and Wind Levybensetton and Barrett Bremekamp have shown some scoring ability during their varsity careers to date, with Bremekamp leading the team with five goals last season. It would require a big jump, but Henry Hudson could be one of the surprise teams in the division thanks to its seniors and with a more favorable schedule, a Shore Conference Tournament appearance is not out of the question.

XI to Watch (With 2017 Stats)

Ki Costa, Point Beach (20 goals, 8 assists)

Ryan Brodeur, Point Beach (6 goals, 9 assists)

Alex Atno, Point Beach (9 goals, 12 assists)

Ademola Odunlami, Ranney (10 goals, 5 assists)

Evan Walters, St. Rose (7 goals, 2 assists)

Jonathan Caputo, St. Rose (3 goals, 6 assists)

Matt Forlenza, St. Rose (2 goals, 7 assists)

Breandain Greene, Keyport (8 goals, 5 assists)

Odhran King, Henry Hudson (4 goals)

Wenderlens Garius, Asbury Park

Kevin Hernandez, Keyport (8 goals, 2 assists)