Howell High School graduate Joe Parella (13) recently concluded a standout career with the Brookdale Community College soccer team and earned First Team All-America recognition for the second straight season. PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOKDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE The Jersey Blues’ forward, who is a graduate of Howell High School, finished second in the country in scoring in 2009 with 50 points, including 23 goals.
During the season, Parella became Brookdale’s all-time leading goal-scorer, surpassing the former record of 43 goals held by Mike Lonigro (Jackson Memorial High School) since 1987. Parella concluded his Brookdale career with 45 goals.
Parella was named the NJCAA Player of the Week on Oct. 28, the week he broke the school record. He scored a hat trick in a win against Raritan Valley (breaking the record for career goals in the process) and then had a goal and an assist in Brookdale’s Region XIX playoff win against Middlesex County College in a shootout. Parella also converted a penalty kick in the victory against Middlesex.
Brookdale soccer coach Mike Costa said Parella, his star striker, was “an example of what junior college does for you.”
Playing in the shadow of All-American Kyle Bethel while at Howell High School and out of position at midfield, Parella found a home with Costa and the Jersey Blues, where he could showcase his talent.
Costa put Parella on the forward line at striker — a position he had played on travel teams — and he proved to be all but unstoppable during his two years at the Lincroft college. He was the target of every conceivable defense, but he continued to find ways to score.
That, according to Costa, was due to Parella’s explosive speed. That is what made him such a prolific scorer.
“It’s that extra gear,” Costa said. “He’ll be running fast and all of a sudden he’s going faster. It’s that change of pace. He has a very quick first step.”
Brookdale rode Parella’s scoring skills to enormous success during his career. He was able to make everyone else on the team better, and wins followed. The Jersey Blues were 32-3-6 during his two years on campus.
In 2008 Brookdale won the Garden State Athletic Conference title and had the program’s first unbeaten regular season. The Jersey Blues had a brief stint at No. 1 in the national rankings, and Parella earned his first First Team All-America certificate.
This fall Brookdale was 15-2-3 and ranked No. 7 nationally.
“There is no way to replace him,” Costa said of his star striker.