Sam Palumbo says he has never seen anything like it in his seven years with the New Egypt High School boys soccer team or with any other squad he has seen: An entire starting lineup returning from the previous season.
“I have a pretty good idea of what we have at this time,” Palumbo said this week.
What the Warriors have is a group of players who may be able to carry the team to greater success than a year ago when New Egypt finished 10-9-1.
In 2012, the Warriors will move from the Burlington County Scholastic League Patriot Division where they were fourth (4-5- 1) a year ago, to the Freedom Division. The Warriors will play smaller schools like Burlington City and Palmyra that feature many talented players.
Burlington City knocked New Egypt out of the Central Jersey Group I state sectional tournament last year. New Egypt had defeated Burlington City, 1-0, during the regular season and Palumbo believes postseason play is one area he had to address for this year’s team.
“We would always lose in the state tournament and these guys have to learn how to win in the state tournament by playing at a better level against teams that are stronger,” the coach said.
New Egypt will start the season with three challenging matches: at Florence (Sept. 7), at Trenton Catholic (Sept. 11) and home against Palmyra (Sept. 13).
“That will let us know what we have and whether we can contend for the division and (state) sectional championship,” Palumbo said.
Juniors Connor Ingenbrandt and Ryan Grasso notched seven shutouts sharing time in goal last season, while forwards Travis Ward, a junior who scored 17 goals, and senior captain Adam Coyle, who scored 12 goals, give the team the balance Palumbo has praised at this early juncture. “We pretty much know each other,” Coyle said. “We have a good shot to do something.”
The Warriors will scrimmage Notre Dame, Ewing and Lawrence at home before opening the season.
“The off-season commitment is probably the best ever,” said Palumbo, noting that New Egypt had a strong turnout at a summer camp at Rider University and played in fall and summer leagues at GoodSports in Neptune.
Coyle ran the 400-meter hurdles for the outdoor track and field team and reached the state Meet of Champions in the spring. He said that effort helped him get in better shape and become faster and stronger for the upcoming soccer season.
A big concern, said Coyle, is the youth of the midfield, although Nick Sample tied a team record with 13 assists as a freshman last season. Sample will be joined at midfield by juniors Kennard Taylor, Ken Johnston and Eric Wig.
“I see a lot of kids have improved with the same team back,” said junior sweeper Matt Dey, another captain who anchors the defense with junior stopper Ken Stillwell and outside backs Pete Zarriello and Hunter Lang, both seniors.
“I see a strong core with everyone on the field, getting the ball to the outside to the midfield so (the midfielders) can get it to the forwards to finish it,” Dey said.
The Warriors expect to employ a 4-4-2 alignment, although Palumbo said he may try a 3-4-1-2 look with Sample as a striker playing back off the front line a bit.
Both captains said the team has good unity that continues with friendships off the field.
“We have bonded well from last season,” Dey said.
Also pressing for playing time are junior forward Jacob Bogucki and sophomores Raphael Archer on defense and Vin Masitti at midfield.