Friends pull together in memory of Central's No. 18

The player in the burgundy shirt trapped a throw from his goalkeeper, then turned upfield.

No. 18 sent a pass to No. 18 in the midfield, and a few dribbles and passes later the striker, No. 18, sent a one-touch pass out to the wing, where No. 18 took one step and fired off a shot into the upper right corner of the net.
"Beautiful shot!" someone said, and the ribbing began.
 "Hey, that's two goals by two of the oldest guys on the field," someone else said.

And all of it was in good fun for a good cause. This was not your typical soccer game.

Players clad in sweatpants and sweatshirts, knit caps and gloves met at the soccer complex in Bayville on Dec. 18, to honor their friend, former teammate and fellow Central Regional High School alumnus, Jason Marles.

Every one of the T-shirts in burgundy and gold bore the number 18 - Marles' number as a varsity starter for all four years of his high school career.

The game not only honored Marles, the Ocean Gate police officer who was killed by a drunk driver as he made his way home on Thanksgiving morning. Event organizers wanted to raise money for a trust fund for the education of Marles' two children, Taryn and Landon. Marles also played soccer in the Berkeley Soccer Association.

More than 100 people turned out to watch and to cheer on the soccer players, who each paid a minimum of $20 to participate in the game, held at the Berkeley Soccer Association's complex on Eastern Boulevard.

Proceeds from food and drink sales at the snack stand, along with donations from spectators and a $500 contribution from the West Windsor Patrolmen's Benevolent Association totaled more than $3,700, said Frank Penevolpe, an accountant and Marles former soccer coach, who helped coordinate the fundraising effort.

A fundraiser at Ocean County Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu raised another $1,190, bringing the total to nearly $5,000. T-shirts for the players were donated by the Berkeley Township PBA.

  "That's more than we ever imagined," Penevolpe said. The money was delivered to the attorney handling the Marles' children's trust fund on Dec. 20.

 A break in what had been bitter temperatures made the game more comfortable for the players, some of whom hadn't played in a game in years.

 "At least there's no wind," said referee Lou Picaro,  who along with Phil Moretta  volunteered to referee the game.  Both men are from Ocean Gate. "And the sun is helping."

 The burgundy side, comprised of players who graduated in even years, led 2-1 at halftime. But the gold side evened the match on the strength of two goals by Mike Hayes, class of 1995.

  "That's two goals and an assist," Hayes said as he was named the game's MVP. "Get my stats right!" he joked.

The players plan to make the game an annual event. Troy Van Hise, Central's junior varsity boys soccer coach and a longtime teammate of Marles, said the game will be held on the weekend after Thanksgiving in the years to come.

"If anything good can come out of Jay's death, let's make a vow to come together every year in his memory," Hayes told the players who gathered after the game.

 The response to the event was overwhelming, Van Hise and Penevolpe said. The Monmouth University men's and women's teams donated gifts, and pizzas were donated by Conca Doro in Lanoka Harbor, and a local pizzeria donated 20 pies to raise money at the snack stand.

"We wanted to publicly thank everyone involved," Penevolpe said. "To try to do it individually would not be possible, but we are overwhelmed."

  The final score was up for debate.

"4-3, burgundy," said Chris Wutsch, one of the game's organizers. "No, no," Hayes replied, "it was 3-3, one goal was called back."

 "By who?" Wutsch said. "By me," Hayes said. "I called one back."

Nearby, Taryn and Landon dribbled a soccer ball and took shots on goal.  Somewhere, you can bet No. 18 was smiling.