Cranford Boys Soccer Team Defeats Kearny, Columbia and Union City in Summer Tournament

(Editor's note: This update is provided by boy's soccer coach Mike Curci.)

With their first Union County championship behind them, the Cranford boys' soccer team is gearing up for a 2010 season which holds many unknowns.

With seven starters lost to graduation after a record-setting 22-1-2 season, the team wasn't quite sure how it would fare when members traveled to Kearny for the annual Kearny Invitational Summer Tournament to face the North Jersey powerhouses of Kearny, Columbia and Union City.

But their 14-player roster was up to the task -- as the Cougars defeated Kearny 4-1 Friday night, before delivering a pair of 2-0 victories against Essex County power Columbia and Hudson County's Union City.

It was a result which has built the boys' confidence heading into the pre-season just two weeks away.

"I know Kearny and Columbia are expecting to have big seasons this year," said Cranford assistant coach Schyler Fannell. "We have just three senior starters back, and they are outstanding talents in Eric Walano, Ray El-Khoury and Connor DeMars. We also have a very talented group of sophomores who practiced with us every day last year. They've gone through the varsity learning curve already, and that will pay dividends for us sooner than later."

That was never more evident than over the weekend -- when sophomores James Sands, Matt Aquiles and Ryan Wright scored goals, while junior Jeff Francis also tallied a goal against strong competition. Junior George El-Khoury also scored against Kearny, while his brother Ray connected twice -- one on a 30-yard rocket to the upper-90 -- also against Kearny -- and the other on a head ball off a corner kick versus Union City.

Cranford scored eight goals in three games while allowing just one -- a penalty kick which gave Kearny a 1-0 lead in the opening match.

"The defense was outstanding -- we closed down quickly and blocked shots," Fannell said. "It's only summer ball, but the experience our young team got this weekend is great.  The older players now have confidence in the underclassmen, while the younger players realize that they're good enough to play at this level.  It was a win-win on all accounts."

The Cougars will continue with their summer training and conditioning for the next two weeks, before official practices begin on Aug. 23 for players at all levels.

The program is at the point where expectations are high every year -- thanks to their 52 wins, three straight conference championships and that first county crown.

"There's a long way to go before they become close to the team they were last year," said Fannell. "But there's definitely plenty of potential here."

Meanwhile, the number of players expected for tryouts continues to rise, with close to 80 boys set to take to the field when soccer season officially opens.

"The competition from top to bottom is bringing out the best in players. I hope they understand how difficult it is -- to not only earn a starting position here -- but to make the varsity roster. As a program, that's exactly where you want to be."