By Jim Hintelmann
HOLMDEL – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional’s boys soccer team started the season slowly, but the Bulldogs picked a good time, to put things together.
Rumson, winners of five in a row, scored its biggest win of the season Monday when it ended a four-game losing streak to Holmdel with a 3-0 victory to gain the finals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II playoffs.
The two teams compete in the Shore Conference A Division Central with Holmdel winning both regular season meetings this year.
“This was something special for us,’ said Rumson coach Will Gould, now in his fourth season at Rumson. “We just made some changes in our formations and moved some people around. We went from a four back system to a three back system at the end of the season.
“We were at their field today and it was time for redemption,” said Gould. “The team was ready and focused.”
Although Rumson dominated the game, the contest was scoreless in the first half with Holmdel goalie Jack Murray (14 saves) making some good stops.
The turning point in the contest came 10 minutes into the second half when Gould inserted junior Mitch Lauria into the game, and the move paid dividends almost immediately when he took a free kick from Nick Calabrese and headed it in.
Lauria scored again six minutes later when he received a pass from Leo Maita and drilled it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead. It was his fifth goal of the season.
“The coach had faith in me and told me to make a change, and I did.” said Lauria.
Jeremy Nives added an insurance goal with another header off a set piece from Calabrese.
“This was a great feeling,” said Nives. “We lost to these guys in the quarterfinals last year and this was payback. Hopefully, we can keep going in the playoffs.”
“We knew we had to score in the second half,” said Calabrese. ‘When we did, it was all business thereafter.”
Rumson goalie Markar Krikorian finished with six saves for the Bulldogs, who will play at second seeded Bernards in the CJ II finals today (Thursday). Bernards edged Matawan, 2-1, in the other CJ II sectional game Monday.
Rumson failed to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament but has peaked in time for the playoffs.
“I’ve had these seniors as freshmen in my first year as coach,” said Gould. “They went to the sectional finals that year and we did it again this season.”
Rumson should be even better next year with the added experience.
“We have four or five seniors,” said Gould. “The rest are juniors and one freshman. We bring a lot of these guys back next year.”
Holmdel, with a very young team, finished up at 9-7-3.
HOLMDEL – Rumson-Fair Haven Regional’s boys soccer team started the season slowly, but the Bulldogs picked a good time, to put things together.
Rumson, winners of five in a row, scored its biggest win of the season Monday when it ended a four-game losing streak to Holmdel with a 3-0 victory to gain the finals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II playoffs.
The two teams compete in the Shore Conference A Division Central with Holmdel winning both regular season meetings this year.
“This was something special for us,’ said Rumson coach Will Gould, now in his fourth season at Rumson. “We just made some changes in our formations and moved some people around. We went from a four back system to a three back system at the end of the season.
“We were at their field today and it was time for redemption,” said Gould. “The team was ready and focused.”
Although Rumson dominated the game, the contest was scoreless in the first half with Holmdel goalie Jack Murray (14 saves) making some good stops.
The turning point in the contest came 10 minutes into the second half when Gould inserted junior Mitch Lauria into the game, and the move paid dividends almost immediately when he took a free kick from Nick Calabrese and headed it in.
Lauria scored again six minutes later when he received a pass from Leo Maita and drilled it into the back of the net for a 2-0 lead. It was his fifth goal of the season.
“The coach had faith in me and told me to make a change, and I did.” said Lauria.
Jeremy Nives added an insurance goal with another header off a set piece from Calabrese.
“This was a great feeling,” said Nives. “We lost to these guys in the quarterfinals last year and this was payback. Hopefully, we can keep going in the playoffs.”
“We knew we had to score in the second half,” said Calabrese. ‘When we did, it was all business thereafter.”
Rumson goalie Markar Krikorian finished with six saves for the Bulldogs, who will play at second seeded Bernards in the CJ II finals today (Thursday). Bernards edged Matawan, 2-1, in the other CJ II sectional game Monday.
Rumson failed to qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament but has peaked in time for the playoffs.
“I’ve had these seniors as freshmen in my first year as coach,” said Gould. “They went to the sectional finals that year and we did it again this season.”
Rumson should be even better next year with the added experience.
“We have four or five seniors,” said Gould. “The rest are juniors and one freshman. We bring a lot of these guys back next year.”
Holmdel, with a very young team, finished up at 9-7-3.
