Boys Soccer – 2019 Preview: Class B Central

The Class B Central division in Shore Conference soccer has more non-public programs in it than any other division in the conference – St. Rose, Mater Dei Prep and Ranney – and yet no non-public has won the outright division title since St. Rose’s 2010 state championship team. Shore Regional (now in A Central), Point Pleasant Beach and Asbury Park are the only teams to win the division title in the last nine years, with Point Beach entering to 2019 the defending champion.

That could finally change this year, with Point Beach graduating a wealth of senior talent, Asbury Park entering year two of a rebuild and St. Rose and Ranney seemingly ready to take a step forward. St. Rose closed 2018 with a run to the South Jersey Non-Public B championship game and with its leading scorer back, the Purple Roses appear to have the momentum heading into the new year.

In predicted order of finish

* - 2018 Shore Sports Network All-Shore Selection

St. Rose

Head Coach: Brian Pringle, sixth season
2018 Record: 9-11-2 (4-2, third in B Central)
Returners: Christian Riozzi-Bodine (Sr., Forward), Matt Kirkpatrick (Jr., Midfield), Matt Santos (Sr., Forward), Jake Dempsey (Sr., Midfield), Morgan Fahy (Jr., Midfield), Matt DeLuca (Sr., Defense), Kyle Corrigan (So., Forward)
Key Losses: Jonathan Caputo (Midfield), Evan Walters (Midfield), Matt Forlenza (Midfield), Nick Forlano (Goalkeeper), Mike Mahon (Midfield), Timmy Schall (Midfield), Joe Blaes (Forward), Chris Clayton (Defense), Mike Robedee (Midfield), Luke Fahy (Defense)
Newcomers: Jacob Capone (Sr., Defense) – transfer from CBA; Matt Fondonella (Sr., Midfield), Casey Ballou (Sr., Goalkeeper), Luke Aldi (So., Goalkeeper), Luke Hammil (So., Midfield), Matt Gowan (So., Defense), Jimmy Nappo (Sr., Defense), Pierre Yacoub (Sr., Defense), Chris Hass (Sr., Forward), Anthony Marzigliano (Sr., Defense)

What appeared to be a lost season for St. Rose in 2018 changed dramatically in November at the outset of the NJSIAA Tournament. The Purple Roses got healthy at the right time and rolled into the South Jersey Non-Public B championship game, which they lost, 2-1, to Rutgers Prep after falling into an early 2-0 hole.

The return of Jonathan Caputo from injury was a major factor in that run to the championship game and while Caputo graduated in the spring, another major scoring force from last year is back. Senior Christian Riozzi-Bodine led the Purple Roses with 14 goals last season and is the top returning goal-scorer in the division along with Keyport’s Breandain Green. St. Rose also brings back experience in the midfield with Jake Dempsey, Matt Kirkpatrick and Morgan Fahy, while also plugging senior Matt Santos up top with Riozzi-Bodine.

St. Rose will be shuffling some spots around to cover some holes, but have enough talent and experience back to return to the top of the division, which the Roses have not done since 2010. Matt DeLuca returns to lead the defense and if that unit can do the unsung work behind a dynamic scorer in Riozzi-Bodine, St. Rose will return to the state tournament with a chance to finish what it started in 2018.

Point Pleasant Beach

Head Coach: Mike Baiata, eighth season
2018 Record: 14-5-1 (6-0, first in B Central)
Returners: Dylan Aportela (Jr., Goalkeeper), Matt Adao (Sr., Defense), Robert D’Agostaro (Sr., Midfield), Tom Decristofano (Jr., Midfield), Justin Mazzatta (Jr., Midfield), Luke Zylinski (So., Defense), Braden Niebling (Sr., Midfield), Tanner Curtis (So., Midfield)
Key Losses: Ki Costa* (Midfield), Ryan Brodeur (Midfield), Alex Atno (Forward), Adam DiPasquale (Defense), Francesco Crivelli (Defense), Ben Glass (Midfield), Eric Monticello (Goalkeeper), Luke Marcoux (Defense), Alex Osorio (Midfield), Will Campbell (Defense)
Newcomers: Owen Marcoux (Jr., Defense), Rowan Doyle (Jr., Defense), Jack Foley (Sr., Forward), Josh Boyan (Fr., Forward), Jacob Bardsley (So.), Cliff Smith (So.), Dan Finlay (So.), Hunter Roselli (So.), Isaac Enu (So.), Colin Hutton (Fr.), Owen Curtis (Fr.)

Point Beach had the division’s best player last in All-Shore scoring machine Ki Costa and he was high on the list of reasons Point Beach rolled to a division title in 2018. More than that, he was part of a strong senior class the impacted the Garnet Gulls throughout the formation. Those seniors will be hard to replace this season, but one spot where Point Beach should be set is in goal, where junior Dylan Aportela returns after claiming the job last season. Senior Matt Adao should also help keep opponents off the board as he returns to the back, with sophomore Luke Zylinski joining him.

If there is an area of concern heading into the season it is finding enough scoring to make up for the loss of Costa and other top scorers Alex Atno, Ryan Brodeur and Ben Glass. Robert D’Agostaro (one goal, four assists) and Tom Decristofano (six assists) were capable facilitators last year but they will need someone to emerge as a consistent threat to finish. Junior Justin Mazzatta scored three times last year and sophomore Tanner Curtis leads a group of underclassmen ready to contribute. If goal-scoring is a big part of that contribution, the Garnet Gulls should hang in the B Central race and build up another contender in Central Jersey Group I before long.

Ranney

Head Coach: Donny Gray, second season
2018 Record: 7-9 (5-1, second in B Central)
Returners: Anthony Virone (Sr., Goalkeeper), Ethan Marston (Sr., Defense), Matt Padovano (Sr., Defense), Charlie McCann (So., Midfield), George Sima (Sr., Forward), Uzay Takil (Sr., Forward), Nick Saxson (Sr., Defense), Trent Redman (Jr., Midfield)
Key Losses: Ademola Odunlami (Forward), Greyson Kellner (Midfield), Olukayode Oladeji (Midfield/Forward), Aidan Laszlo (Defense)
Newcomers: Thomas Boyan (So., Midfield), Mike Callahan (Sr., Midfield), Will Beyer (Sr., Midfield), Jett So (So., Defense)

St. Rose may have closed the season with a flurry but prior to the Purple Roses’ state tournament run, Ranney beat them during the regular season and finished second in B Central. Now the Panthers return plenty of experience from a year ago with a chance to win the program’s first Shore Conference division championship.

Ranney should be sound in the back, with seniors Ethan Marston, Matt Padovano and Nick Saxson all back in front of all-division goalkeeper Anthony Virone. The Panthers took their most significant losses up top and in the midfield with the graduation of striker Ademola Odunlami (14 goals) and midfielder Grayson Kellner but seniors George Sima and Uzay Takil are ready to step in as scorers up top. Meanwhile, junior Trent Redman and sophomore Charlie McCann return to the midfield, with sophomore Thomas Boyan emerging to take up a spot in the center.

With some experience back under second-year coach Donny Gray, Ranney enters 2019 with a chance to overtake St. Rose and Point Beach and make an impact outside the division once the scene shifts to the Non-Public B Playoffs.

Asbury Park

Head Coach: Felix Flavien, second season (13th overall)
2018 Record: 3-9 (3-3, fourth in B Central)
Returners: Woodley Cagilus (Jr., Midfield), Davenson JoinVilmar (So., Midfield), Peter Altidore (Defense), Edgar Zuniga (Goalkeeper), Rosselet Etienne (Defense), Arthur DeJoie (Defense), Jesus Ayala (Defense), Asion Murchison (Defense), Jean Salomon (Forward), Richard Mozo (Midfield), Yael Garcia Jose (Midfield)
Key Losses: Wenderlens Garius (Midfield)
Newcomers: Chefeston Simeus (Forward), Elijah Simons (Forward), Miguel Guzman (Midfield)

Last year was a rebuilding year for Asbury Park, which struggled outside of Class B Central to the tune of a 0-6 record. The silver lining was the finish to the season, which included competitive outings against Montgomery and Ranney, plus a win over Henry Hudson to send the young Blue Bishops into the offseason on a positive note.

Junior Woodley Cagilus is the lone holdover from Asbury Park’s division championship team two years ago, when he was a freshman goalkeeper. He is now a junior midfielder for the Bishops and will pair with sophomore Davenson JoinVilmar, who led Asbury Park in scoring as a freshman. JoinVilmar is hoping to make the kind of impact his older brother, Davensky, made when he led Asbury Park to back-to-back division titles, a Central Jersey Group I title in 2016 and earned All-Shore selections in each of his past two years.

Asbury Park returns experience in the back plus goalkeeper Edgar Zuniga. Peter Altidore, Rosselet Etienne, Arthur DeJoie, Jesus Ayala and Asion Murchison all played last year and should make for an improved defensive unit this year. Jean Salomon, meanwhile, will man a spot up top as a goal-scorer, with JoinVilmar, Cagilus, Richard Mozo and Yael Garcia Jose in the midfield. There is still plenty of growing to do but Asbury Park should show some progress this season with a year of experience behind its young core.

Keyport

Head Coach: Brendan Hilliard, sixth season
2018 Record: 4-11-1 (1-4-1, fifth in B Central)
Returners: Breandain Greene (Sr., Midfield/Forward), Kevin Hernandez (Jr., Forward), Jared Sheridan (Sr., Defense/Midfield), Sal Tornetto (Sr., Defense), Shane Zimmerman (Sr., Defense), Angelo Madrigal (Sr., Midfield/Defense), Tyler Maher (Sr., Midfield), Josh Vasquez (Jr., Midfield), Joe Lanzaro (Jr., Forward), Nabil El Maalem (Jr., Defense), Mustafa Kilic (Jr., Forward), George Mitchell (So., Midfield/Forward), Alex Bernardino (So., Goalkeeper), Elliot Gerhard (Sr., Forward), Tim Connallon (So., Defense), Matt Shipley (Sr., Defense), Josh Dswonyk (So., Forward)
Key Losses: Zach Budd (Defense), Henry Martinez (Forward), Sean Matos (Midfield/Forward),
Newcomers: Adrian Sabatino (Sr., Forward/Midfield), Andrew Obando (So., Defense), Trevor Ahmed (So., Forward/Midfield), Christian Oldhafer (Fr., Midfield)

Keyport fielded one of the Shore Conference’s youngest teams in each of the past two seasons and the Red Raiders are hopeful the payoff is coming in 2018. Senior Breadain Greene tied for the B Central lead with 14 goals last season and has amassed 22 goals over the past two seasons. The Red Raiders also return their other two leading scorers in junior Kevin Hernandez and senior Jared Sheridan, the latter of whom will help out on defense.

Sophomore goalkeeper Alex Bernardino got valuable experience as a freshman and will have a more seasoned defense in front of him, with seniors Sal Tornetto and Shane Zimmerman in front of him. The Red Raiders have shown they can score since the emergence of Greene and Hernandez and if the more experienced back line can develop, Keyport has a chance for a breakthrough in its sixth year of existence

Mater Dei Prep

Head Coach: Will Carl, first season
2018 Record: 1-12-2 (0-6-1, seventh in B Central)
Returners: A.J. Bruney (Sr., Forward), Patrick Mastro (Sr., Defense), Chris Napoli (Sr., Defense), Marcone Pessoa (Jr., Defense), Jeremy Ramos (Jr., Midfield), Liam Stewart (Jr., Midfield), Christian Szotak (Jr., Midfield), Dylan Morales (Sr., Forward), C.J. Braun (Jr., Goalkeeper), John Contini (So., Midfield), Zach O’Neal (So., Forward), Jason Gruber (So., Midfield), E.J. Ventura (So., Forward), Scott Gomes (So., Defense), David Corbisiero (So., Midfield)

Like Keyport, Mater Dei boasted one of the Shore’s youngest teams last year, so much so that the Seraphs did not have a senior in the lineup in 2018. That means most of last year’s crew is back and hoping to take a lead forward under first-year coach Will Carl after failing to win a game in official B Central play last year.

Even with an older roster, Mater Dei still has only four seniors on the roster. That group is led by A.J. Bruney, who was the team’s top scoring threat a year ago as well. Senior Dylan Morales will also see time up top, while seniors Patrick Mastro and Chris Napoli fortify the defense. Juniors Liam Stewart, Jeremy Ramos and Christian Szotak return with experience in the midfield and junior C.J. Braun will man the goal. The Seraphs are still a young team but should be better situated to win games in 2019.

Henry Hudson

Head Coach: Matt Mancini, fourth season
2018 Record: 5-14 (1-5, sixth in B Central)
Returners: Theo Qirko (Sr., Forward), Aidan Casey (Sr., Midfield), Tom Doherty (Sr., Defense), Blaise Cauvin (Sr., Midfield), Casey Haupt (Sr., Defense), James Crowley (Jr., Midfield), Alex Eugenio (So., Defense)
Key Losses: Odhran King (Defense), Barrett Bremekamp (Forward), Michael McCahon (Defense), Liam Hagan (Goalkeeper), Wind Levybensetton (Forward), Jack Sanders (Midfield), Lucas Mednis (Defense), Brian Bremekamp (Defense),
Newcomers: Josh Winters (Sr., Goalkeeper), Deontae Florek (Jr., Midfield), Nick Buzzanco (So., Midfield), Gavin Sapio (So., Defense), Nick Bigotto (Fr., Midfield), Evan Buzzanco (Fr., Midfield), Emiliano Cervantes (Fr., Midfield), Jesse Jacobs (Fr., Defense)

Henry Hudson graduated its top three scorers in Odhran King, Barrett Bremekamp and Wind Levybensetton but bring back some key contributors nonetheless. Senior Casey Haupt scored five goals and will be the Admirals' top defender as well as a scoring option. Senior Tom Doherty and sophomore Alex Eugenio are also back on the back line

Senior Theo Qirko, meanwhile, will play up top after putting up a pair of goals and assists last season. Senior Aidan Casey, senior Blaise Cauvin and junior James Crowley return to the midfield and will be among the leaders that help Henry Hudson try to overcome its scoring losses and build on a five-win season in 2018.

B Central Starting XI

Christian Riozzi-Bodine, Sr., Forward, St. Rose (14 G, 2 A)

Breandain Greene, Sr., Forward, Keyport (14 G, 2 A)

Matt Kirkpatrick, Jr., Midfield, St. Rose (3 G)

Jake Dempsey, Sr., Midfield, St. Rose (2 G, 1 A)

Morgan Fahy, Jr., Midfield, St. Rose (2 G, 1 A)

Tom Decristofano, Sr., Midfield, Point Beach (6 A)

Rob D’Agostaro, Sr., Midfield, Point Beach (1 G, 4 A)

Charlie McCann, So., Midfield, Ranney (3 G)

Davenson JoinVilmar, So., Midfield, Asbury Park (5 G)

A.J. Bruney, Sr., Forward, Mater Dei Prep (5 G)

Anthony Virone, Sr., Goalkeeper, Ranney (2 SHO)