MUSTANG ROUNDUP
By: Rudy Brandl
The Manville High cross country team improved its record to 4-1 with a 21-38 victory at Dayton last week.
Junior Mike Andreyko easily prevailed in the race, completing the short 2.9-mile course in a time of 17:38. Andreyko defeated a runner from Dayton by 40 seconds.
Manville sent the next three runners across the finish line from third to fifth place. Glen Liszczak (18:33), Nghi Nguyen (18:39) and Brian Hahn (19:16) clinched the victory, while Dan Volpi finished eighth in 20:35.
Sebastian Firak (9th, 21:13), David Le (16th, 26:08) and Ashley Shields (17th, 29:13) also competed for Manville.
Dayton had originally reported the course at 3.1 miles, but MHS head coach Tony Treonze knew the course was shorter once he saw the times posted. Andreyko led a pack of runners twice around the high school grounds and tuned up for this week’s Mountain Valley Conference Championships.
"Mike ran by himself," Treonze said. "I’d like to see him compete against some of the better runners. He ran around 18 minutes in practice, so I think he can go in the 17s. He can hang with some of those better kids."
Treonze was encouraged by Nguyen’s performance. After slumping early, the MHS senior cross country veteran has started to run faster each week.
"Nghi is finally getting to where he should be," Treonze said. "He’s starting to pull ahead."
Nguyen, Liszczak and Hahn will all be chasing Bound Brook’s second runner at this week’s conference meet. Treonze believes the Mustangs can take the Sky Division title if that pack of three challenges the front runners. All three have been taking turns running second behind Andreyko.
"On any given day, any one of them can pull ahead of the other one," Treonze said.
Manville was set to embark on a very busy week of action, starting with Monday’s road meet at South Hunterdon. Yesterday’s MVC meet was held at Pleasant Valley Park in Bernards. The team will host its only dual meet, and final one of the season, today against Highland Park.
Kohler ignites
soccer romp
Senior striker Lauren Kohler played a part in four of team’s five goals when the MHS girls’ soccer team blanked Bound Brook last week on the road.
Kohler had two goals and two assists, while Amy Cutler, Dana Delesky and freshman Marzena Brozyna added single goals. Jess Covert also notched an assist for the winners.
Stefanie Bocchino made seven saves to register her fifth shutout of the season. Bound Brook’s Lauren Thatcher stopped 22 shots to minimize her team’s damage.
Manville bolted to a 4-0 lead at the half and cruised to its second win over the Crusaders in a 12-day span.
Winning streak puts
boys in good shape
A four-game win streak, capped by last Thursday’s 2-0 home victory over Dayton, advanced the MHS boys’ soccer team’s record to 5-2. Even with Saturday’s loss at Montgomery in the Somerset County Tournament, the Mustangs are on pace to qualify for the Central Jersey Group 1 playoffs.
Manville opened last week with a 6-0 shutout victory over Oratory Prep in Summit. Sophomore midfielder Rafal Brozyna led the balanced attack with two goals.
Senior scoring sensation Erick Jimenez, who knocked in both goals in Thursday’s big home win, added a goal and two assists at Oratory. Oscar Alfaro contributed a goal and an assist for the winners.
Armand Fodorean made 11 saves to blank Oratory and stopped seven shots vs. Dayton.
The Mustangs were set to face Roselle Park, Roselle and Somerset Vo-Tech this week.