Monroe boys on the bubble for a state tournament bid
Soccer team needs some wins in last few games
to qualify
It’s getting to be that time of year when wins are hard to come by, with teams making a push to qualify for the elusive state tournament.
The Monroe Township High School boys soccer team is one such team.
A strong performance over the next week and a half could propel the team into the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey Group II playoffs.
The Falcons, 5-6 heading into Wednesday’s game against St. Peter’s, could easily have several more victories if they could put the ball in the net more often, according to Coach Steve MacKenzie.
"Our team has been playing very well, especially on defense," the coach said. "Offensively they’ve moved the ball well and created a lot of chances. They’re just not finishing the play."
Senior sweeper Paul Greim, a second-year starter, leads the tight-fisted defense. Greim’s prowess has enabled MacKenzie to move Ricardo Moreira, who played sweeper last season, to forward where Moreira scored four goals and added a pair of assists.
Sophomore goalie Dalton Carofilis, his second campaign in the nets, has been solid, turning in four shutouts.
Fullbacks Chris Johnson and Matt Collura, both seniors, and Andrew Hollander and Greg Epstein, juniors, have also played well. Johnson and Hollander generally marked the opposition’s top scoring threats.
In the middle, senior Dan Gibbons has been playing a more offensive-minded game of late and has helped create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Junior Eric Seyfried is a good two-way player.
Moreira has been the mainstay up front, and a pair of sophomores are showing promise.
Scott Modzewleski has scored twice, while Tyler Chiara has a goal and two assists.
"Our guys are getting the chances and when that happens, sooner or later they start going in," MacKenzie said. "If that happens, we’ll be all right."
Monroe returns to action tomorrow against Spotswood and will host St. Joseph’s on Saturday. Prior to the St. Joseph’s game, Monroe will hold its first alumni game. Any former member of the boys team can play in the game, which will begin at 11 a.m.
The Falcons entered this week’s action in second place in the Greater Middlesex County Blue Division behind only J.F. Kennedy (9-1). But the Falcons got a confidence boost last week when they upset the division-leading Mustangs, 1-0. The Mustangs had won their first eight games and had been toying with the notion of running through their regular season undefeated.
Looking ahead, the Falcons have upcoming games with a hot North Brunswick team that is gradually making its way up the GMC’s rankings on Oct. 15, Metuchen, and a very good Old Bridge squad. If the Falcons are to qualify for the state tournament (teams must be at or above the .500 mark on Oct. 19), they’re going to have to beat a few quality opponents to do it.
But who knows, maybe those goals that MacKenzie has been talking about will come at the right time. Athletes always talk about "being due," and the coach and his players are excited about their chances.