Groover enjoys first year in goal
By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
Kellen Groover was hoping that the Florence High School boys soccer team could net a goal in the first half of their Central Jersey Group I quarterfinal game.
When that didn’t happen, the Flashes sophomore goalie knew he was in for a tougher time when Florence had to go into the wind in the second half.
”It was a really strong wind,” Groover said. “It was probably blowing 30 miles per hour.
”When we had the wind with us, we could have scored. We just couldn’t get one by them.”
Third-seeded Point Pleasant Beach took advantage of those gusts to score a pair of goals for a 2-0 win over sixth-seeded Florence last Friday. The Flashes finished their year 9-8-2.
” I thought we did great,” said Groover, who stopped four shots against Point Pleasant. “We came out with a positive record. We did a lot better than last year.”
On Monday, the fourth-seeded Florence girls soccer team also saw its season end, 3-0, in the CJ I semifinals at the hands of top-seeded Metuchen, which improved to 15-1-1. Kaitlyn Porretti made nine saves as the Flashes finished their season 8-9-2.
The Florence girls advanced to the semifinal game with a 1-0 win over South Amboy. Ashley Swiderski made a penalty kick in the first half, and the Flashes defense did the rest in front of goalie Alexis Carroll to preserve the shutout win.
Defense was big all season for the Flashes boys team. It helped Groover in his first year starting to adjust to the varsity level.
”Our defense was big in keeping a positive record,” he said. “I had seven shutouts. Our defense did really good.
”They made them shoot from tougher angles, shoot from farther out, and knocking the ball out of our halves.”
Groover was in his first year starting varsity. The year before, he split time as a field player and goalie for the junior varsity, but always felt he could help Florence most in goal.
”It was a great jump,” Groover said. “There were a lot of good opportunities to help the team out.”
Groover helped to solidify a Flashes boys team that relied on its veterans to post a solid season. Florence will graduate plenty.
”We lost 11 seniors,” Groover said. “It’s going to probably be a rough year next year.”
The Flashes had opened the CJ I tournament with a 2-0 win over Somerset Tech. Nick Stovall-Kurtz and Greg Perri scored for the Flashes.
”We played all right,” Groover said. “We did our game. We passed the ball a lot and got around their defense and scored.”
That win set them up for an upset bid against Point Pleasant Beach, a 1-0 winner over Bound Brook in the opener. Point Pleasant improved to 11-6-1 when they topped Florence.
”We knew it was going to be a really tough match and we had to do what we had to do,” Groover said. “We had to play our best game.”
The loss provides motivation for a young group that will try to replace this year’s strong senior class.
”I see a couple kids that can help, like Matt Brown,” Groover said of the freshman. “He can play left midfield. He’s got a great left foot. He should be a good competitor.
”We’re kind of thin (in the sophomore class). Jon Reed could play midfield. We just need to communicate more next year. Communication is the main part of the game.”
Groover will hone his skills on his club team, German American Kickers, out of Yardville. He’s hoping to return a more confident goalie while taking on a larger leadership role in his second year of varsity, one that he hopes will end a little bit later in the state tournament.