Teams that advance in the state tournament look to keep going to the championship game for the seniors on the team.
But for New Egypt High School, it goes deeper.
It is also playing to win for Sam Palumbo, who said he is stepping down as head coach after the last game of the season.
“I knew from the beginning of the season,” Palumbo said of his decision. “I’ve had this team for a decade, and it’s been a great run. But I have a 15-monthold son, and I need to spend time with my family.”
“It’s the last year for the seniors and coach Palumbo, and we want to play as a team and make our mark,” senior Nick Sample said. “He knows a lot as a Division I player (at Villanova University for two years) and did a lot for me. He’s a great mentor. In my freshman year, it was intimidating, and he helped me gain confidence. I don’t think I’d be as successful in soccer if not for him.”
Matt Carroll, an assistant coach for two years, has taken on added responsibilities throughout this season, and Palumbo said he’ll recommend Carroll for the head coaching job.
“Matt played for me, and Glen Knigge has been an assistant for nine years. And we will continue to do that,” Palumbo said. “I’ve wanted this to be a program, not a team, and it has become a program.”
The Warriors have proven that. With a 4- 2 victory on Nov. 10 over visiting Bound Brook High School, New Egypt moves into the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championship game for the third year in a row. This time, it visits Shore Regional High School (21-2-1), which beat Roselle Park High School, 8-3.
The Warriors (18-4) have won 12 straight games since a 3-1 loss to Holy Cross High School, as both teams eventually finished as co-champions of the Burlington County Scholastic League Patriot Division with 9-1 division records. New Egypt has a 53-13 scoring edge in that stretch. New Egypt has won five division titles. “It all clicked after the Holy Cross loss,” Palumbo said. “We put into perspective what we needed to do.”
Last year, New Egypt won its first state section title, including a 2-1 victory over Bound Brook in the section semifinals, and advanced to the Group I finals, where it lost to David Brearley Regional High School, 3-0.
But this year, there’s a different go-to player. Travis Ward used to be the target for scoring opportunities, and he responded with a school season record of 30 goals before embarking on a college career at Rowan University, where he scored a team-high eight goals and had two assists while starting every game as a freshman for the Profs (10-9).
But Sample emerged as this year’s big finisher and has 36 goals. Ironically, Sample was regarded in the past more for setting up teammates for scoring opportunities, and he has 27 assists this year. He has 71 career goals — one behind Ward’s school record — and 73 assists, which is a New Egypt record.
Palumbo said that being marked by teams that know he is dangerous has not affected Sample’s play.
“He understands the game so well, it’s not an issue,” Palumbo said. “They try to mark him with one-man or zone coverage with two or three men, and he just lets the game come to him — if not for a goal, maybe for an assist or a defensive play. He’s more than happy to do what it takes to help the team.”
Sample scored the first goal on a penalty kick in the opening minute against Bound Brook. After Bound Brook tied it 15 minutes later, Sample intercepted a pass and fed Vin Masitti for his 16th goal and a 2-1 lead just before halftime. Masitti, who plays in the center midfield with Sample, also has 22 assists.
Bound Brook answered back before New Egypt struck for two goals early in the second half, the first by Willie Davis off a pass from Sample and the insurance goal by Tyler Dey, who scored off a rebound set up by Chris Puma.
Tim Blomgren, who has shared time in goal with Tre Gonzalez, went the distance in this game and made five saves. New Egypt took 14 shots.
“The bottom line is Nick is the most talented player in the program,” Palumbo said. “In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone like him.”
Sample hasn’t done it alone. Masitti and Davis play in the center halfback spot in the 4-5-1 configuration, with Andre Agostinacchio playing left halfback and Puma and Nick Romano alternating at right halfback. Dey is the striker with 11 goals and 11 assists.
Sweeper David Calabrese and stopper Raphael Archer anchor the defense with outside backs Gavin Pritchard and Matt Blomgren, Tim’s brother.