Robbinsville boys’ soccer preparing for quicker start

Sean Moylan, Sports Writer
   A 2-17-1 inaugural first season forced the Robbinsville High boys’ varsity soccer team to improve its training methods this summer.

   "They’ve been running throughout the summer and we still have two weeks before the season starts," said coach Jason Armstrong during Monday’s first mandatory practice. "We’re working on our team quickness. We’ve done more speed drills (this summer). Last year we were blown away by the quickness of some of the other teams."

   The Ravens boys ran several laps around the track and appeared to take their running very seriously. Despite it being only its second varsity year, Robbinsville will have a veteran group this season and many of the boys got much bigger over the summer.

   "We have 11 seniors on this team and we’ll practice every day, six days a week," said Armstrong. With the new practice rules Robbinsville can no longer run two-a-days. But Armstrong is making the most out of his three-hour practices. Moreover, he has more players to work with this season.

   "40 plus guys came out for the team so our benches will be much deeper and there will be a high level of competition for spots. We went into this year where no one is a starter," said Armstrong, who along with his assistant Brian Dempsey, will make players work for starting time. "We’re optimistic. We took out lumps last year but we’ll be a little smarter this season."

   Team captains Alex Giaquinto and Justin Carrubba made sure everyone stayed in playing shape this summer. Because the CVC has no boys’ summer league, the Ravens only competed in the 77 tournament this summer. Yet they did their workouts and are ready for the upcoming season.

   "One of our goals as a program is to be .500 and finish in the top half of the CVC," said Armstrong. "We have a lot of returning starters from last year and no freshmen program."

   Togetherness will be a key this season. In fact, after Monday’s practice the Ravens held a team lunch inside to bond more as a team. The Ravens are faster and more physically fit than ever before. They want to win and have done all the things necessary in preparation of reaching that goal.