Sayreville boys should be a better team next season
Team appears to be reloading for next few years
With a group of younger athletes playing key roles, the Sayreville War Memorial High School boys soccer team finished the season at 8-10-1.
Juniors Brock Vazquez and Herbert Obeng distinguished themselves up front for the Bombers.
Vazquez topped the team in scoring with 10 goals and four assists, while Obeng ended up with nine goals and five assists, despite missing the end of the campaign with a broken collarbone.
Versatile Ed Mount added four goals to the attack, while midfielder Michael Colandrea scored five times. Both are juniors.
The Bombers should be solid again in goal next year with the return of sophomore backstop Rob Galante, who was spectacular at times, according to coach Nick Cifelli.
Seniors Ryan Piscitelli and Kyle McLeanas anchored the Sayreville defense, helping along juniors Rob Kriskowsi, a sweeper, and Jason Townsend, a marking back. Sophomore Michael Ratajczyk also performed well on the backline.
Cifelli noted that his team will miss a pair of senior midfielders, John Kolarin and Dan Fiorentino, next year. Fortunately, the coach has players like Dennis Malopolski and Tom Wonaszek ready to step in.
"I expect that we’ll play a lot better next season," Cifelli said. "We’ll be a little more experienced, and that will help, and we do have several quality players who will be returning."
Cifelli noted that the level of competition in the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division is also likely to increase next fall. Defending champion Perth Amboy will return most of its starters, and the division will add a pair of quality programs in John F. Kennedy and Monroe.
"It might be an even tougher division next year," the coach said.
But Sayreville should be even tougher as well, and will look to challenge for that elusive White Division crown and make a return to the state tournament.