Manalapan High School’s Mike McNicholas (16) and Monroe Township High School’s Alex Infosino try to win control of the ball in the air during the Nov. 13 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship game played in Manalapan. McNicholas anchored a Braves defensive effort that kept the Falcons off the scoreboard, as Manalapan won the state sectional title, 1-0. STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ERIC SUCAR The 2014 Manalapan High School boys soccer team was on a historic mission this fall.
The Braves wanted to leave their mark as one of the program’s best. To do that, they needed to capture an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship.
That title had eluded them in an otherwise memorable 2013 season, when they won the Shore Conference A North Division and Shore Conference Tournament crowns. Their loss in the sectional semifinals stung and was their main motivation for the 2014 season.
The Braves put that 2013 blemish behind them on Nov. 13 when they defeated Greater Middlesex Conference champion Monroe Township High School, 1-0, at home in front of their devoted fans.
“This means everything,” said Mike Mc- Nicholas, who anchored a superb team defensive effort against Monroe. “I’m so proud of this team.”
Adam Weisberger, who scored the only goal of the match, remarked after the triumph, “We were very determined to win [the sectional title]. Every year, you want to improve.”
Clutching the sectional trophy, head coach John Natoli said, “It’s special. You never know if you’re going to win it again. It’s so difficult to win.”
McNicholas said the Manalapan faithful “energize” the Braves. They rewarded their fans by racing over to their side of the pitch to celebrate the program’s first sectional title since 2007 — when Manalapan went on to win the Group IV co-championship — together with them.
It was a well-earned victory. What started out with offensive fireworks turned into a tense defensive battle.
In the first minute of the match, Mitchell Volis’ corner kick was headed by Ryan Hammer off the crossbar.
The next time the Braves had a corner kick just 3:05 into the match, they cashed in thanks again to another fine serve by Volis.
Weisberger was opportunistic in slamming home what proved to be the only goal of the match.
“There was a scramble. Rocky [Garretson] chipped the ball, and I hit it,” Weisberger said. “It stayed on the ground.”
The first score was what Manalapan was looking for.
“The key for us was to go up early,” Natoli said.
Manalapan had more chances to pad the lead thanks to Ayush Mittal, who was all over the field. He used his quick acceleration to constantly beat the Falcons defenders on the wing, opening up space and delivering cross passes to his teammates, who weren’t able to convert.
Mittal was the reason the Braves were playing for the Central Jersey Group IV title. In the semifinals on Nov. 10, Manalapan let a 2-0 halftime lead slip away. Hunterdon Central Regional High School scored twice in the second half to force overtime. Mittal scored off a through ball from Weisberger in overtime to win it for the Braves. After a first half that featured numerous scoring chances, the second half was played much tighter by both teams.
The defense, which was a concern entering the season with McNicholas as the only returnee, played as well as it has all year. It was a fortress in front of Manalapan’s tandem goalies, Mike Cavanaugh and Justin Terr.
“It was crucial that we gel as a team,” McNicholas pointed out.
The Braves’ defensive goals were to keep everything in front of them and win the 50/50 balls in the air. They did an outstanding job of that and limited the chances the Falcons had on goal.
When something did get through, Cavanaugh and Terr made the plays.
Natoli said he has had no problem using two goalies this year. He noted that everyone was waiting for one of them to win the job. The coach said he has two very even goalies, both of whom have bailed the team out. He has stayed — and will continue to stay — with the two-goalie rotation. Manalapan, which was seeded No. 2, got to host the sectional finals against No. 4- seed Monroe because the top seed, Montgomery High School, was ousted by Freehold Township High School in the quarterfinals.
Monroe took out the Patriots, 2-0, in their semifinals game to earn a trip to the sectional finals.
The home pitch, Weisberger explained, was important for Manalapan.
“They’re a very technical team, and they’ve played on turf,” he said.
It’s hard for those touch passes to connect on a grass field.
Make no mistake, no matter where the match was played, the Braves were going to come out on top. They were the hungrier and better team, and they weren’t going to be denied.
The loss to Freehold Township in the Shore Conference Tournament may have been the best thing for the Braves heading into the state tournament. “It put a chip on our shoulder,” McNicholas said.
The Braves improved to 16-4-3 on the season, while Monroe closed out its season at 21-4-1.
Natoli credited the work the Braves have put in all season for bringing the sectional title back to Manalapan.
“They came [into the season] in shape in August,” he said. “They’ve had an outstanding work rate all year.
“They are determined and dedicated to soccer.”
The season is far from over for the Braves. They were scheduled to play South Jersey Group IV champion Washington Township High School (24-1) on Nov. 18 at Neptune’s Memorial Field in the Group IV semifinals.
The Group IV state finals are on Nov. 23 at Kean University.
“It feels too good to stop now,” McNicholas said after the victory over Monroe.