WW-PN boys’ soccer making run at states

Jacques provides leadership in goal

By: Justin Feil
   In Matt Jacques’ first year starting, the West Windsor-Plainsboro North boys’ soccer team opened the year 4-1-1.
   Then last year the Knights lost their first nine games and finished with five total wins. WW-P North looked headed down that same path after an 0-4 start. That’s when seniors like Jacques decided that they didn’t want their careers ending with a whimper.
   "For the seniors, we were able to experience last year and how that felt," said Jacques, the Knights goalkeeper. "Even though we got off to a rough start, we all stuck with it. Even though the odds were against us, we didn’t want it to be like that again. We wanted to come back. We didn’t change things. We just knew they would come. After we beat Notre Dame, that just gave us confidence."
   Since their 0-4 start, the Knights had won six out of their last nine games to put themselves in position to make the state tournament. They were 6-7 overall going into Monday’s scheduled make-up game against rival WW-P South. With a win, North would need one more win or two ties before Friday’s state cut-off for being .500. With a loss, the Knights would need to win today against Lawrence and Thursday against Steinert.
   "This is different from other sports," Jacques said. "We don’t have to count on other teams. We go 2-1 and we’re in states. We think we can do it. We want to go 3-0. We’re looking forward to South. We have two big games back-to-back with Lawrence. Win or lose (Monday), we have to bounce back. We have a lot of work to do this week.
   "The last few games have been my best. I don’t know what I’m doing differently. I’m more confident with the way we’re playing. Collectively we’re playing well. We’ve gone 6-3 in the last nine. Individually each of us is playing better and that’s making us collectively play better. I’m trusting my instincts and going with what comes naturally. It’s worked."
   Jacques has been up to the challenge of making some big plays in recent weeks, and the Knights offense has also helped. It has scored 10 goals in the last two games going into Monday. WW-P North’s offensive improvement coincides with moving Jared Mangone up from defense to offense. He and Scott Kelly give the Knights two dynamic forwards.
   "The difference has been the goal scoring," said Knights head coach Trevor Warner. "We’ve played well even in losses. We’ve lost four one-goal games. When you’re putting the ball away, it gives you a little confidence and then you still have confidence if the other team scores.
   "Our goalkeeping has stepped up the last four games. Matt Jacques, he’s coming off his line more. He’s dictating play. He’s better on corners. He’s been better overall."
   This week, the Knights will need all facets of the game to be in order to knock off three good teams. The Pirates, who sat one game above the cutoff going into Monday’s game, are just as hungry for a win that would guarantee them a state spot. Lawrence has already qualified, and in so doing it has shown itself to be a good side. Steinert is always strong.
   "The positive for us as far as Lawrence goes," Warner said, "is they’ve qualified. Hopefully they don’t have the urgency we’ll be playing with. Not that I don’t count a team out, but we’re in a position where the game means more to us. The Lawrence game is at Zimmer Field. We played there against Notre Dame and I think that fits our style. Steinert, they’re playing well. The thing that concerns me is their speed. We have matched up well in recent years though."
   Jacques has been able to see the team develop in front of him as the last line of defense. He likes the way the Knights have been playing since turning things around.
   "A lot of teams in high school are playing kick and run," Jacques said. "They try to get it up to a big powerful forward who can take it in. We don’t have that. We have 11 guys all working together, playing to each other’s feet. We try to move it through Paul (Boccellari). He leads the team with the possession.
   "When we possess the ball, we’re at our best. When we get into other teams’ game, and play a way we’re not used to, that’s when we’re not as good."
   Jacques never lost faith that the Knights would get to the point where they’d be playing for a state tournament berth. Their first three losses were by a single goal, including an overtime loss in the season opener.
   "We knew even though we were 0-4, we lost to good teams," Jacques said. "We weren’t playing poorly. We weren’t losing. It was more that the other team was winning. We stuck with it. We seniors showed we still believed in it. It trickled down through the team."
   Being a senior, more was expected of Jacques coming into the season. He is as important to the Knights’ back as Mangone has become to the front. It feels a little different from when he was starting for the first time as a sophomore.
   "Being the goalkeeper, a lot is expected of you," he said. "When I was a sophomore, I wasn’t as in tune to being there for the younger guys. I like being back there with the younger guys and being able to settle them down."
   Jacques was one of the seniors that kept things calm even as the Knights struggled for wins in the first two weeks of the season. That quiet confidence has paid off and it has WW-P North in position to make the state tournament this week.
   "They’ve been playing that ‘second season’ for nine games," Warner said. "So far, they’ve stood up to the challenge."