10/4/2011 - H/W/S Soccer To Start
The Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Girls Soccer Tournament has been very kind to the teams hailing from Sussex.
In fact, Sussex schools have won the first two tournaments with a very young High Point team shocking everyone in 2009 with a 2-0 win over Hunterdon Central and the Vernon Express rolling to a 3-0 win over HC in 2010 en route to 22 straight wins.
On the other hand, county boys teams have not fared as well with only Newton reaching the final in 2009 when it lost to North Hunterdon. Hunterdon Central topped North Hunterdon in last year’s final.
But I have a sneaking suspicion that may change this year with the way the Newton Braves are playing and we may just see a Sussex sweep with a Sparta and High Point very capable of keeping the crown in Sussex on the girls side.
The seeds for the respective tournaments will come out this week with first-round play slated for this weekend.
If I had a say in the seedings this how I would break down the Sussex teams 1-through-10. I will start with the boys.
1. NEWTON (8-1-1, 5-0 Freedom) —The Braves are by far the top team in the Mugs Media area and have high aspirations this year. They are off to great start with 3-0 wins over Sparta and Pope John and division victories over Kittatinny and Wallkill Valley.
Newton’s possession game is a pleasure to watch led by the catalyst in the middle Andy Weber. Steven Churchill, Leo Recalde and Brett Conrads are also dangerous, while Newton’s defense has been superb anchored by Kevin Lyons and company in front of keeper Kyle Morel.
2. POPE JOHN (5-4-1, 4-3 American) ---The Lions got off to a terrible start losing their first two games to Mt. Olive 4-2 and Vernon 6-2. But Brad Cameron has the Lions playing much better and they are 5-2-1 since with their losses coming to Newton and state-power Montville 1-0.
Eric Lagg, who is heading to Seton Hall, leads the charge along with Rob McKinley, Sal Bigay, Cody Kiss, Garrett Abbey and the Grants on defense, Nick and Anthony. Although they lost to Vernon, I feel the Lions are playing better soccer now than the Vikes so I gave PJ the nod.
3. VERNON (4-5, 3-4 American) ---Yes, the Vikes beat PJ head-to-head, but that was almost a month ago. Vernon also owns a win over Sparta 1-0. But a tough 2-1 loss to Jefferson stings. That doesn’t mean the Vikings can’t make a run in the tourney because they have one of the best coaches in the state in veteran John Ryan who has close to 400 wins.
Joe Canal, Nick Ciani and Dan Goetchius pace the attack and Cory Wiedmann is solid in goal.
4. KITTATINNY (5-2, 4-1 Freedom) ---Year in and year out, Pete DeMartini does a fine job with the Cougars and this year is no different. Kittatinny owns wins over Wallkill Valley and Hackettstown with its lone loss in the division coming to Newton.
Brendan McNamee, David Coombs, Carson O’Neil and Kevin Knissel, when healthy, are all dangerous. Vito Turi has been solid in goal and the Cougars are capable of winning a couple of games if things break right.
5. WALLKILL VALLEY (4-2, 3-2 Freedom) ---The Rangers are a dangerous team that no one wants to play as evidence of their recent win over Morris County power Whippany Park. Sean Neal, Kodie Hilbert, Tyler Smith and Owen Law lead the way as Andy Landolfi is one of the better netminders around.
6. SPARTA (2-6, 2-4 American) ---It has been a very tough year for the injury-riddled Spartans and their outstanding coach Andrew Lowery. The Spartans have had trouble scoring all season and the defense has been tested too much. Alexander Zambenedetti, Chase LaBeau, key the attack, while Michael Schiumo, Gil Gibbs Evan Pricket and Seth Lohr are solid contributors. The Spartans, if healthy, could surprise some team that takes them lightly.
7. LENAPEVALLEY- (2-7, 1-4 Freedom)—The Pats under coach Eric Schuman are a tough bunch and you need to bring your ‘A” game to beat the scrappy Pats. They own one-goal losses to Wallkill and Kittatinny and look to Steven Valencia, Tyler Schwartz and keeper Matt Levin.
8. HOPATCONG (1-7, 0-5 Freedom)—The Chiefs have struggled but sport one of the top players in the division in Dylan See. Chris Ives plays goal, but the Chiefs will need to play their best soccer of the season to win a game in the tourney.
9. HIGH POINT (0-8, 0-7 American)—First-year coach Kevin Fenlon, who had great success with the High Point girls program, is trying to build a program up in Wantage. The young Wildcats play hard but just can’t score. They look to Preston Rowan, Jack Ryan and Brendan McEvoy.
10. SUSSEX TECH (2-6)—Under new coach Jon Russo the Mustangs have been competitive in their tech school schedule but its loss to Lenape Valley shows they are just not there yet as far as the rest of the teams in the area are concerned. Aaron Michalov is a threat on the attack for the Mustangs.
GIRLS
1. SPARTA (6-1-1, 4-1-1 American)—The Spartans are the surprise of the area thus far with wins over Vernon, Pope John and a tie with High Point earlier in the year. First-year mentor Jamie Barker has gotten this young team ready to play every game.
Jamie Delaney, Kristy Levan, Emily Corrice, Marissa Martin and Jem Crockford have all played the hero in the Spartans’ well-balanced attack. Marissa Barry has been great in goal in her first varsity season. The Spartans are fast and talented and can go very deep in this tourney.
2. HIGH POINT (4-2-2, 3-2-2 American) ---The Wildcats got off an awful start with scoreless ties with Jefferson and Sparta before losing to Pope John 3-2. But since then the Wildcats have been red-hot with wins over Vernon and in OT over Mt. Olive.
Lexi Brennan, Brianne Woop, Sam Ritter, Gabby Genetelli, Lauren Hayes, super defender Jamie Christensen and company have paced the Wildcats. This senior group of Wildcats remembers when they won the title in 2009 and they want to go out in style with another championship.
3. POPE JOHN (4-3-1, 3-3-1 American) ---The mercurial Lions have the talent to beat any team on their schedule but consistency has been the problem. Ally Bolger, Madison Flanagan, Alex McGill and Heather Ford are all capable to pacing the attack.
The Lions will have to sure up its defense if they want to get a chance to make a run. When she is on, we have seen goalie Victoria Stecky play amazing. Although they beat High Point, the Vernon loss evens it out in my view, so the Lions get the third seed. PJ also owns a nice win over Newton 4-3.
4. VERNON (3-5, 3-3 American) ---The defending tourney champs have their work cut out for them if they want to repeat. The inexperienced Vikes count on veterans Mallory Costello, Lauren Parak, Emily Bushey and Erin Bushey on the attack, while Holly Lutz and Jessie Cacase do a nice job in goal for veteran coach Dave Hauptly.
5. NEWTON (4-4-1, 3-1-1 Freedom) ---The Braves are young and fun to watch paced by outstanding freshman Alyssa Cronin. Jake Mull, the dean of girls soccer coaches in the area, has a solid group of freshmen including Cronin and Carly Zdanek, plus solid vets in Camilla Posse and Katie Weber. Morgan Euston has been tough in goal for the Braves, who own a win over Wallkill and a tie with Kittatinny. The Braves will be a tough out.
6. WALLKILLVALLEY (4-2, 3-2 Freedom)—The Rangers have less than 20 players in their whole program so everyone has contributed this season. Kelsee Tironi is an outstanding two-way player while Vanessa Bodossian keys the attack. Paige Penque, Maria Yahm and Courtney Krasnomowitz have also been very good for the Rangers.
7. LENAPEVALLEY—(3-5-1, 2-3 Freedom) --- Dan Moylan, who coached the boys team for 17 years, is leading the girls squad this year and the Pats are much improved this season. The Pats own a nice win over Kittatinny, a game in which Samantha Midilli scored two goals. Molly Byrne is a tireless worker in the midfield and Cailyn Steele is a top-notch defender in front of outstanding keeper Nya Dobbs.
8. KITTATINNY- 2-5-2, 2-2-1 Freedom) -- Injures have handcuffed the Cougars, who started the season with a nice win over their nemesis Hackettstown. But since then the Cougars have lost o Lenape Valley, Sparta and High Point. If Kittatinny gets healthy it will be tough with the likes of Kelsey Koch, Alyssa Manno and Kelsey Harpell patrolling the field.
9. SUSSEX TECH (6-4) ---Coach Ed Paiva brings his magic touch to the girls program after leading the boys to the state tournament back-to-back seasons. The Mustangs look to Rhianna Lees, Soleil Schattmann, Brittany Campanello, Monica Rinn and keeper Jillian Blakeney.
10. HOPATCONG (0-9, 0-5 Freedom)—It has been no doubt a tough season for the Chiefs who have scored just two goals all season off the feet of Barb Ortiz and Courtney Macaluso.
So there it is. Like I said the official seeds will be out this week so get ready for some exciting soccer for the next three weeks.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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