Boys Soccer Notes, 9/23

When it comes to beating Holmdel – the three-time defending Shore Conference Class A Central champion – the Rumson Fair Haven boys soccer team has less to prove than any other team in the division.

During Holmdel’s dominant three-year stretch in which the Hornets went 31-1 in the division, the lone blemish on the division record of the perennial power was a loss to Rumson in 2011.

There was no doubt coming into the season that the Bulldogs could beat Holmdel. The question was, “Could they do it with the bulls-eye on their own collective backs?”

Despite Holmdel returning a healthy amount of talent from an NJSIAA Group II and Shore Conference Tournament runner-up team, it is Rumson-Fair Haven that is generating the most buzz among Class A Central teams. With a loaded roster of seniors, the Bulldogs took a major step toward a banner season by beating the Hornets at Holmdel High School, 3-2, on Sept. 16.

“This was a huge test for us,” said senior Eamon Kitson, who scored the winning goal against Holmdel “We consider Holmdel our rivals and for the last few years, the division has gone through them. We have very high expectations for this year and if we’re going to get to where we want to go, Holmdel is a team we have to go through.”

In the win over Holmdel, the Bulldogs absorbed two quick strikes by the Hornets, one 30 seconds into the match by freshman Santo Arena and another 20 seconds into the second half by Jason Kyriacou – a 14-goal scorer last year – to tie the game at 2. The Bulldogs put the pressure back on and eventually got the ball to the foot of Kitson, the team’s most prolific goal-scorer over the past two seasons.

While Kitson’s return off a junior season in which he scored 11 goals and earned All-Shore second team honors from All-Shore Media is enough to make Rumson a dangerous team, the balanced senior roster throughout the formation is what stands out.

The return of senior midfielder Pete Martin – who sat out last year while playing academy soccer – also raised the profile of the Bulldogs. With Martin facilitating, Kitson, Matt Dell (two goals), junior Mike Slutz (three goals) off to hot scoring starts and the defense coming together in front of three-year starting goal-keeper Chris Tierney, Rumson appears ready to make a play for an A Central title and more, although the Bulldogs will first have to overcome a 1-1 draw to Raritan from this past Wednesday.

Uncharted Waters?

Toms River North has been a slow-start-fast finish team since coach Joe Mahon took over the program four seasons ago, which is why the next several games could be telling for this year’s Mariners club.

Following a scoreless draw against Class A South rival Jackson Memorial, Toms River North is 2-1-1 overall, with a 3-2 loss to defending NJSIAA Group IV runner up Monroe and wins over Toms River South and Southern Regional. Brick Memorial and Lacey are on Toms River North’s schedule this week and if the Mariners survive the week, they will stroll into an Oct. 3 showdown with Toms River East with a 5-1-1 mark that would exceed any other seven-game start under Mahon.

A fast start to this season would be particularly unique because two of Toms River North’s players were not on the team last year. Seniors Nick Sica and Sean Graham both played academy soccer last year and are working back into the system during the early part of the schedule.

“We’re getting pretty close to where we want to be,” Sica said. “We’re still working some things out, but our attitude in practice has been really good, we’ve been working better in games and we’re just a couple adjustments here and there from really taking off. We have a lot of skill and a lot of chemistry here.”

The Mariners endured an up-and-down season in 2012 before making a run in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV bracket and coming a questionable call away from an appearance in the sectional final.

“Last year’s team just put it together at the right time,” senior defender Eric Mancini said. “This year’s team is a much closer group. We get along really well and I think that’s a big reason why we’re playing better at the beginning of the year.”

“It hurt not to be out there last year,” Sica said. “To see my team, my friends come so close, it killed me not to be out there. I wouldn’t change any decisions I’ve made, everything’s worked out, but I’m glad I get to come back for my senior year.”

Man-Oh-Manalapan

The season is barely two weeks old and yet there is only one unbeaten, untied team in the Shore Conference and that team did not even have a winning record last year.

It was no secret that Manalapan had the makings of a top 10 team this season, starting the year at No. 10 in the All Shore Media Top 10. However, the extent to which the Braves have dominated while also spreading the wealth has been something at which to marvel.

During its 4-0 start, Manalapan has outscored its opponents 9-0, giving senior goalkeeper Evan Siegel a clean slate through 320 minutes so far. The Braves have been as balanced as they have been dominant, with nine different players accounting for the nine goals.

Manalapan’s most recent win, a 2-0 decision over No. 7 Freehold Township, should solidify its early-season status as a serious threat in the Shore Conference landscape.

Underdogs

The upset of the young season goes to the Huskies of Matawan, who knocked off Wall 2-1 on Friday. The Huskies are a team with a strong group of senior and a handful of talented juniors and sophomores who have formed an effective mix during a 3-1 start.

Outside of a loss to Long Branch, Matawan remains untouched, with wins over Freehold and Neptune to go with the victory over Wall. Junior Alex Cella is off to a fast start, with five goals already this year. He scored in the win over Wall on Friday and also recorded a hat trick in a 3-1 win over Freehold.

Seniors Sam Labinger (two goals), Brendan Howley, and goalkeeper Dylan Ahrens have also played key roles in the fast start for the Huskies, who will now look ahead to this week’s schedule, which includes a Thursday home match against top-ranked Ocean under the lights.

Matawan took Ocean to overtime last season, one of the few highlights in a 4-14 campaign that saw the Huskies go 0-12 during the Class B North schedule. The hard knocks have apparently done the Huskies some good and they enter the third week of the season with a chance to settle into the top 10.