In their first home game of the season, the Metuchen Stars U11 traveling soccer team defeated the West Windsor Tsunami 3-2. Both teams started this game being undefeated. This was a tough game that could have gone either way, but the Stars shined through for the win. Metuchen started the game on the offensive. Ten minutes into the first half, on a pass from Troy Mallory, Sunjay Kumar shot a hard, high ball getting the game’s first goal. Minutes later the Tsunami answered with a goal of their own, a high, lingering shot over goalie Stefan Antosiewicz’s head.
With the return of forward Jake Freed and the fancy footwork of mid-fielder Evan Tardosky the Stars managed a second goal, a nice crossing shot past the goalie by Robert Parnell, giving Metuchen the advantage at halftime. The second half started with Ben Keepers in goal. Despite the solid defensive play of Lucas D’Alfonsi and Bryan Peragallo, who both broke up many goal-scoring opportunities, West Windsor was able to tie the score. Dan Hoffman was able to step up and deliver the game-winning goal with only minutes left in the game. The Stars remain undefeated with a 3-0 record.
Playing at home in the cold rain this past weekend, the Metuchen Stars shut out the New Providence Rowdies, 5-0. The game was evenly matched until 23 minutes into the first half, when Zak Shampain, back from a sprained arm injury, had a breakaway run from mid-field, evading two defenders, to take a hard shot on goal for a the first score of the game. With only minutes left in the first half, Stefan Antosiewicz, off a perfect pass to center from Sunjay Kumar, took his shot and put the ball in the corner past the Rowdies goalie, giving the Stars a 2-0 advantage going into half time. Stars goalie Ben Keepers stopped four shots on goal in the first half.
In the second half the Stars totally dominated. Shampain, with an assist from Troy Mallory, added his second goal only minutes into the half. With the mid-field play of Evan Tardosky, Dan Hoffman and Stephen Pasquerella setting the pace, Adam Schlitt scored his first goal of the season. Jake Freed and Joe Graham provided impressive offensive play through out the game. Shampain, with a high shot over the goalies head, added yet another goal for a hat trick. The credit for keeping the opponents scoreless goes to the dominant and aggressive defensive play of the Stars. Lucas D’Alfonsi, Robert Parnell and Bryan Peragallo never allowed the Rowdies to put forth any real goal scoring opportunities, while Antosiewicz, in goal for the second half, was fearless in the defense of his team’s goal. The team has scored 18 goals this season, already surpassing their total goals from last season. This was the Stars second shutout of the season, keeping them undefeated.