Story and photo by Jay Cook
BAYVILLE – After faltering only once through the 2016 season, the Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer team exacted revenge against the one squad who caused them fits all year long.
The Colts and their newly-found foes, the Marlboro Mustangs, went head-to-head for the third time this season at a neutral pitch, Central Regional’s Joseph J. Boyd Field, in the Shore Conference Tournament finals.
In a game led by some intense defensive efforts by both clubs, CBA was able to pull out a 2-0 win to beat Marlboro, only a week-and-a-half after falling to the ‘Stangs 3-1 in Lincroft.
“Marlboro’s a really well-coached team,” said CBA first-year head coach Tom Mulligan. “They’re organized in the back, they have a lot of seniors and a lot of character on that team, and they’re a tough out.”
BAYVILLE – After faltering only once through the 2016 season, the Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer team exacted revenge against the one squad who caused them fits all year long.
The Colts and their newly-found foes, the Marlboro Mustangs, went head-to-head for the third time this season at a neutral pitch, Central Regional’s Joseph J. Boyd Field, in the Shore Conference Tournament finals.
In a game led by some intense defensive efforts by both clubs, CBA was able to pull out a 2-0 win to beat Marlboro, only a week-and-a-half after falling to the ‘Stangs 3-1 in Lincroft.
“Marlboro’s a really well-coached team,” said CBA first-year head coach Tom Mulligan. “They’re organized in the back, they have a lot of seniors and a lot of character on that team, and they’re a tough out.”
Colts senior captain Matt Thorsheim, who had a goal called back in the championship game, noted how important of a win this was for his squad.
“It was special. We worked so hard this season, and credit to Marlboro, they were just a tough fight all three games; overtime the first game, beat us the second game,” he said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming in and that we would have to work hard all 80 minutes.”
The Colts, who are led by a core group of 13 seniors, have had many different faces pop up throughout the season and make many timely goals. On Saturday, that score came from senior Matt Mawson, in the form of a give-and-go between himself and fellow senior Patrick Kollman in the 15th minute.
“It was special. We worked so hard this season, and credit to Marlboro, they were just a tough fight all three games; overtime the first game, beat us the second game,” he said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy coming in and that we would have to work hard all 80 minutes.”
The Colts, who are led by a core group of 13 seniors, have had many different faces pop up throughout the season and make many timely goals. On Saturday, that score came from senior Matt Mawson, in the form of a give-and-go between himself and fellow senior Patrick Kollman in the 15th minute.
“We had a great team play, a few combinations, and Patrick played me a great through ball and I had the ability to finish,” Mawson said.
For CBA, it was paramount to get out to a quick lead against Marlboro, and Mawson’s effort to achieve that did not go unnoticed by his coach.
“Matt Mawson has been doing little things like that all year long, and I’m glad he’s finally getting some of the credit that he really deserves,” Mulligan said. “He’s a tireless workhorse, he’s got an engine that doesn’t quit, he runs up and down the flank for 80 minutes every game we have and he’s got a great attitude.”
CBA also couldn’t have captured this win if not for some fantastic play in goal by senior Aedan Boriotti. He staved off a pair of big-time Marlboro free kicks, one of which came by a leaping punch in the first half of play.
It would take more than just one goal to keep Marlboro away, as they kept the pressure on CBA throughout the game. In the 56th minute, Colts defenseman John Askin was in the right place at the right time for some cleanup duty off a ball by Thomas Judge.
“It was a great feeling, but it all led up from my teammates, and it was all them,” Askin said. “Judge was there, put a perfect through ball in, and I was right there to put it in.”
In the victory, CBA captured their second-straight SCT title, and although that is an achievement in its own right, the team is striving towards more success.
Before the season started, the Colts were aiming for an undefeated run through 2016. While that was no longer a possibility after Oct. 19, one remaining aspiration still remains.
“We set the goal of winning a state championship a long time ago, and this was not our ultimate goal,” Mulligan said. “This was definitely a goal of the season, but this team, with the seniors, set the goal of making it to a state final, so we’re going to refocus our attention on Monday towards that.”
For CBA, it was paramount to get out to a quick lead against Marlboro, and Mawson’s effort to achieve that did not go unnoticed by his coach.
“Matt Mawson has been doing little things like that all year long, and I’m glad he’s finally getting some of the credit that he really deserves,” Mulligan said. “He’s a tireless workhorse, he’s got an engine that doesn’t quit, he runs up and down the flank for 80 minutes every game we have and he’s got a great attitude.”
CBA also couldn’t have captured this win if not for some fantastic play in goal by senior Aedan Boriotti. He staved off a pair of big-time Marlboro free kicks, one of which came by a leaping punch in the first half of play.
It would take more than just one goal to keep Marlboro away, as they kept the pressure on CBA throughout the game. In the 56th minute, Colts defenseman John Askin was in the right place at the right time for some cleanup duty off a ball by Thomas Judge.
“It was a great feeling, but it all led up from my teammates, and it was all them,” Askin said. “Judge was there, put a perfect through ball in, and I was right there to put it in.”
In the victory, CBA captured their second-straight SCT title, and although that is an achievement in its own right, the team is striving towards more success.
Before the season started, the Colts were aiming for an undefeated run through 2016. While that was no longer a possibility after Oct. 19, one remaining aspiration still remains.
“We set the goal of winning a state championship a long time ago, and this was not our ultimate goal,” Mulligan said. “This was definitely a goal of the season, but this team, with the seniors, set the goal of making it to a state final, so we’re going to refocus our attention on Monday towards that.”
