The track record says that Howell and Manalapan will see a lot of each other before the soccer season is over.
Saturday, all that Howell boys coach Rich Yuro was concerned about was his team finding its footing.
With the loss of all-state players Paul Calafiore and Mike Krol hard to replace, and add to that the team’s best player, Kyle Bethel, is on the sideline with a high ankle sprain, Yuro has been trying to find ways to fill those holes.
“We’ve had to move a lot of players around,” he said. “We’re finding our chemistry.”
Billy Kappock has moved back to sweeper from midfield, and Matt Salvatore is playing stopper.
One of the team’s outside defenders, George DiCharo, figured prominently in Howell’s 4-0 win in Manalapan.
“We changed our defensive strategy from zone to man-to-man,” said Yuro.
That left the near-impossible assignment of marking Manalapan’s George Quintano to DiCharo. Quintano is a relentless forward who can leave defenders in the dust with his quick acceleration, but DiCharo was undaunted, shadowing the Brave forward for 80 minutes.
“George is hard-nosed and works hard,” said Yuro. “He’s not afraid to do the dirty work.”
Howell cashed in on its scoring chances early to take charge of the game. Just 10 minutes into the contest, Kappock scored, followed 13 minutes later by Joe Parella.
Before the half was over, the Rebels built the cushion to 3-0 on Cody Calafiore’s goal.
Kevin Carbone finished the scoring late in the second half.
Goalie Brian McDonough stopped 10 shots in registering the shutout, with Kappock, Salvatore, DiCharo and Mike Savino keeping the shots on goal down (10).
What has pleased Yuro the most in the early season is the Rebels’ offensive balance.
“The team is playing well without him [Bethel],” he pointed out. “We’re not relying on any one person.
“The kids are confident in their ability that they can do it without Kyle,” added Yuro.
If and when Bethel gets back into the lineup, the Howell offense will become even more formidable.
Calafiore has shown the ability to finish (he had the three-goal hat trick in a 4-1 win over Colts Neck) with Eric O’Neill creating scoring chances for the team’s forwards from midfield.
After falling to Freehold Township 2- 1 in overtime in their first game, the Rebels have now reeled off three straight A North Division wins, keeping the defending champions in contention.
Freehold Township, the surprise team thus far, is 4-0.
Manalapan fell to 2-2 in the division and overall. Last fall, the Braves did not win the division (losing twice to Howell), but that didn’t keep them from winning the Shore Conference Tournament and Central Jersey Group IV titles and playing for the Group IV title. They avenged their regular-season losses to Howell by beating the Rebels in both the SCT and the state sectional. That’s why both teams know that the chances are good that they will meet again in the postseason.
Like the Rebels, the Braves lost some prominent starters, and coach John Natoli’s team is also finding its way early. The Braves should get better as the season progresses.
Meanwhile, Yuro declared the A North race a four-team battle among the Rebels, Patriots, Braves and Christian Brothers Academy.

