Raider senior provides winner for boys
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Ryan Kreger’s junior season on the soccer field didn’t last very long.
”I got hurt in the first five minutes of the first game,” recalled Kreger, a senior at The Hun School who tore his ACL and partially tore his meniscus in the season-opener against West Windsor-Plainsboro South. “I was out for nine months. I like to think that I’m back at close to 100 percent.
”It took nine or 10 months to get back to where I felt good playing again. But the hard work was worth it to get back and be able to play my senior year.”
Kreger, who was a starter for the Raiders as a sophomore when they won the Mercer County Tournament title, has been a stabilizing force on defense again this year. In addition, he also leads the team with four goals this season.
”He’s been great,” said Hun coach Pat Quirk, whose team improved to 5-5-2 with a 1-0 win over Blair on a goal by Kreger on Saturday. “He’s not the loudest kid out there but he’s a silent leader for us. The younger kids look up to him and the style he plays.”
Kreger made his way forward on a free kick on Saturday and scored the only goal of the game, helping the Raiders snap a two-game losing streak.
”He’s still in the back, but he pushes up on free kicks and corners,” Quirk said of Kreger. “He can attack when he’s in the box. He’s happy to be there and he was able to put one in. He’s actually scored four goals for us. They’re not the prettiest but they go in the net.”
Prior to this season, Kreger had scored two goals for the Raiders — one as a freshman and another as a sophomore. This year, injuries have hindered the Raiders offense, but the defense has kept them in most games. Kreger is just happy to be involved in any way he can help.
”I’m more defensive, but I’ve done both,” he said. “I don’t have as much experience on offense. I’m just happy to be playing. It’s been a tough season, but it’s better than not playing. I’d rather be playing and having the season we’re having than not playing at all.
”We have a lot of new players. There are a lot of sophomores playing this year. “It’s been an up and down season. I’m hoping that we can end up on a high note.”
Kreger knows what it is like to play a big role as a sophomore. He did that two years ago when the Raiders won the MCT.
”That was a great year,” said Kreger, who plays center defense for the Raiders. “It was the best year I’ve had in soccer. We had five sophomores that played that year and we won the Mercer County Tournament.”
This year’s team might not contend for an MCT title, but if the Raiders could ever get their whole team on the field together at once, they could surprise some people.
”Our defense has kept us in a lot of games and our goalie, Jeff (Kaminski) has come up big,” said Quirk, whose team was scheduled to play Hightstown on Monday. “A lot of times our defense has been good and they don’t get to Jeff. Kreger has been huge back there and so has Mark Nicholas.
”It seems like every game I’m out on the field with someone who is hurt. Thomas Nicholas has been out. Steve Norman is finally back. Jelani (Rooks) has been on and off the field.”
Ryan Kreger knows what it’s like not to be on the field. He suffered through that last year and hopes those days are behind him.

