Somerset Hills Soccer Club

Raiders reach finals in two major tournaments

plus Flames Win Final Two & Spirit Takes Pair

The Somerset Hills Soccer Club’s U15 boys Raiders concluded their first season in the highly competitive Mid-Atlantic Premier Soccer (MAPS) league by making runs to the championship games in two regional tournaments.

In the MSSL Explosion (Mid-Atlantic Soccer Showcase League), U.S. Club Soccer-affiliated tourney at Fort Dix over Memorial Day weekend, the Raiders rode the strength of a relentless attack led by Nick Martin, Phil Miko and Tim O’Leary to two victories in three-round robin games.

Somerset Hills toppled the Rockville Centre Strikers, 4-0, and the Hockessin SC Cyclones, 2-0, while O’Leary scored the decisive goal in a 4-2 semifinal win over the Island Trees SC Blaze.

The team dropped a 3-0 decision to the Manhattan Soccer Club in the final, but not before midfielder Billy Zimmermann forced the opposing goalkeeper to punch out a shot aimed for the upper corner.

During the big NationalSoccerRanking.com’s East Coast Cup in Holmdel, the Raiders again took two of three in pool play as midfielders Oscar Marin, Zimmermann, Ted Polito and Dan Ingraham led the charge in an opening-game 5-1 win over the Hazlet United Bombers.

In a 1-0 victory over the Middletown Fire, goalkeeper Jack Kearns earned the shutout behind sweeper Chris Whalen, outside backs Dean Stangarone, Vince Fiorilli and Ben Askin, and central backs Corey Cunningham and Mike Lee.

In a 2-1 loss to South Jersey Barons, midfielder Chris Wasilewski stepped into the box to beat the keeper to forge a tie, but a late goal sunk the Raiders in the last pool game.

In the tourney final, the Raiders faced the Holmdel Stallions Azzurri and fell 3-0 after giving up two second-half goals.

The team was a melting pot of players from six area high schools: Bernards High, Ridge, Gill St. Bernard’s, Watchung Hills, Seton Hall Prep, Montgomery and Bridgewater-Raritan.

Goalkeeper Ian Eisele, forward Zac Stager along with midfielders Brian Vassallo, J.B. Kole and Danny Miranda also played this season for trainer Dan Adams.

Flames Wins Final Two

With different keepers notching the shutouts, the U12 girls Flames won their final two outings to claim runner-up honors in the flight with a 6-2-2 record as they edged North Hunterdon, 1-0, and downed Middlesex, 2-0.

In the victory over North Hunterdon, Megan Woods turned in an outstanding effort in goal with nine games, while Abbie Krieck accounted for the match’s only goal. Lizzie Abbott, Anna Beekman and Erin Doran all had strong games in front of Woods on defense.

Against the Storm from Middlesex, Jillian Calton notched an unassisted goal while Sydney Terris converted a pass from with an assist from Taylor Jennings and Krieck needed to make only two saves in goal. Abbott, Doran, Carley Hydrusko, Amanda Reimer and Julianna Zweig all played well in the victory.

Spirits Takes Pair

With Katie Matzen scoring three of the four goals, the U10 girls Spirit capped its season with a pair of 2-1 victories as it edged Bloomfield on June 8 after slipping past Watchung on June 4.

Matzen scored both Spirit goals against Watchung, while Emma Islinger and Sophie Spring led the way with fine performances. Katie Matzen and Megan Cookson scored as the Spirit beat Bloomfield.

Alex Baker and Lucy Dunn on the field, along with Jen Dunsheath and Brooke Giuliano in goal, all played well.