Brozyna scores twice in victory
By: John E. Powers
Unfortunately for the Manville High School boys’ soccer team, frustration became a constant companion in as the Mustangs struggled to get on track offensively. Finally, in the season’s final game last week, the Mustangs got an opportunity to have some fun.
Senior midfielder Rafal Brozyna, who’d been bottled up, harassed and baited throughout the season, scored both goals as Manville capped the season with a 2-0 win over Middlesex County Academy in Edison. The MHS season ended with a 3-11-3 record.
"We finally played together, worked hard and had to give our best effort to win," Brozyna said. "We finished strong."
Alexander Maillard scored both goals for the Mustangs in their home finale a 4-2 loss to Brearley earlier last week. Chris Moreno scored on a penalty kick and off a corner kick for Brearley (11-3-2) and Pat McCracken and Bryan Fernandez each added a goal.
"Both of the schools we played last week qualified for the states," said Manville head coach Jim Chiariello, whose team was 7-10-1 last year and 12-5-1 in his first season in 2003. "I really believe that we’re one of the better Group 1 teams in the state, but the fact that we had bigger schools had an impact."
Goaltenders Chris Kocur and Bryan Molina combined for the shutout at Middlesex County Academy. Brozyna scored on a breakaway, then stuffed one in past keeper Chuck Andrejcsik, who had seven saves.
Chiariello said the Brearley loss was another in a long list of tough ones this year.
"We had a corner kick, we had a ball slide through that took a funny bounce and away from the goal," Chiariello said. "We had some breakdowns, but it’s good to finish strong the way we did, getting that win."
Manville outshot its final three opponents Oratory Prep, Brearley and Middlesex Academy but earned just one win in those games. Middlesex County Academy, the No. 6 seed in the Central Jersey Group 1 tournament, was eliminated Friday by No. 3 seed Perth Amboy Tech 7-0.
Brearley advanced to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 semifinals against High Tech. That game was scheduled to be played this past Tuesday. The other semifinal had Jonathan Dayton matched against Bound Brook.
Roselle Park also advanced to the sectional semifinal in North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 and New Providence was beaten by Somerville last week in a North 2, Group 2 quarterfinal. Gill St. Bernards, who beat Manville 5-0 in the Somerset County Tournament, was set to play Morristown Beard in the North Jersey Non-Public B semifinal.
That would make six Manville opponents who were state sectional qualifiers.

