Keyport’s Inaugural Soccer Season Off to a Solid Start

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By Jim Hintelmann
MIDDLETOWN – Joe Froncek played football at Keyport last year but decided to play soccer this season.
That decision proved to be the correct one as he is currently enjoying a fine season for the Red Raiders first-year varsity soccer team. The team evened its record at 2-2 with a 2-0 shutout of Mater Dei Prep Monday.
Froncek scored the first Keyport goal midway through the second half on a shot from 10 yards out, although the Red Raiders got an insurance goal from Brenden O’Brien with 3 minutes remaining.
“It was a real good feeling to put us ahead,” said Froncek, who has five goals this season. “We were coming off two losses.”
Up until this season, Keyport’s soccer players competed on Henry Hudson Regional’s soccer team as part a of cooperative program but, thanks to a good turnout, school officials decided to field a soccer team at Keyport.
“It’s about time Keyport had its own soccer team,” new coach Brendan Hilliard said. “The players are coming from a couple of the intermediate schools and I’m optimistic about the rest of the season.”
Following a scoreless first half during which Mater Dei Prep had a 4-1 shot advantage, Keyport finally broke through when Froncek, who had just missed two other goals when his shots hit the top of the crossbar, drilled in a shot from 10-yards out.
“I played soccer at Henry Hudson in my freshman and sophomore years,” Froncek said. “I decided to play football at Keyport as a junior, but then went out for soccer this year when the school started a soccer team.
“He’s been my workhorse,” Hilliard said. “He’s all over the field.”
Mater Dei Prep (0-4) is in a rebuilding phase with a very young team.
“The kids played hard, but Keyport played very well and I tip my cap to them,” Mater Dei Prep coach Jim McLees said. “We’re young and have only one senior starter. I also have a couple of players out with injuries and a transfer who is coming in, but I expect to improve as the season goes on.”