By Wayne Witkowski
Christian Brothers Academy’s (CBA) unbeaten soccer team got its fourth and most important victory of the season so far when Matt Thorsheim’s goal at the 79-minute mark lifted the Colts to a 2-1 victory over Don Bosco Preparatory High School Sept. 17 in Lincroft.
In a matchup between perennial NJSIAA Non-Public A contenders, 2015 state finalist CBA prevailed when Matt Mawson, who scored earlier in the game off a pass from Thorsheim, returned the favor when he crossed the ball from the end line and Thorsheim fired the ball into the upper right corner of the net.
“It was a typical CBA goal,” Tom Mulligan said.
Mulligan was elevated from his longtime role as assistant coach to the head-coaching position when Dan Keane retired after 39 seasons. Keane was honored before the game for his 558-161-44 record, and it was announced that a special Keane Cup game for CBA alumni will be held every September.
The deciding goal resembled CBA’s earlier goal in the first half when Thorsheim crossed the ball from the end line to Mawson, who took an open shot when the goalie came off the line early. Don Bosco’s Nick Mescopyen scored in the 65th minute with a shot that got just inside the right post past goalkeeper Aedan Boriotti, who again had a relatively quiet day in goal with only two saves.
The Colts hold a 13-2 goal scoring edge this season.
“We didn’t put together our best 80 minutes,” Mulligan said of the victory over Don Bosco. “We played well in the first 15 minutes and the last 15, and in between we played to the score. Don Bosco also took us out of what we like to do, but we’ll work on it.”
The Colts will work hard over a 12-day stretch when they play seven games. It’s highlighted by games against nationally ranked teams DeMatha Catholic High School in Washington, D.C., Sept. 24 and Long Island, New York, power Chaminade Sept. 25 — both kicking off at 2 p.m. — in the Delbarton Invitational.
“It was an opportunity we could not pass up,” Mulligan said of playing in the showcase hosted by the team that beat the Colts in last year’s state championship game, Delbarton School. “It will test our rankings and see where we fit in moving forward with the rest of our conference.”
The Don Bosco game was the first of six consecutive regular-season games scheduled at home, which eases the brutal schedule. CBA played Freehold Township High School Sept. 19 and then takes on Howell High School Sept. 21, Manalapan High School Sept. 27 and Freehold High School Sept. 29 in Shore Conference B North Division action. It’s also home in the following game Oct. 5 against Colts Neck High School, a team it beat, 6-0, Sept. 15 when Aaron Robertson scored twice and assisted on a goal and Patrick Kollman had a goal and two assists.
“There won’t be a lot of time for training and practice or even recovery and rest,” Mulligan said. “We have to keep preparing for the next challenge physically and mentally and to get through it.”