The East Brunswick High School boys soccer team had an excellent record of 16-4 last year. Unfortunately, one of the losses came in the Greater Middlesex Conference title game and another in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group IV Tournament.
"We lost in the GMC title game to St. Joes," noted East Brunswick Coach Terry McKibbin. "We were the number one seed in (Central Jersey Group IV) and were upset in the first round by Hillsborough.
"We want to do really well in the state tournament this year. The team has a chance to win the group sectionals. We also expect to be in the GMC title game again."
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East Brunswick is also after its third division championship in a row.
East Brunswick returns 13 of its 19 varsity players from a year ago. They are a talented and motivated group.
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Two of the returning players are Grant Korten and Emilio Rodriguez, who are both seniors and goalies.
"They each play a half a game and they are outstanding," McKibbin said. "I'm sure they'll be playing in college somewhere next year."
As good as they are, Korten and Rodriguez are counting on a strong defense in front of them. John Bicho (senior), Joseph Hajjar (senior), Alec Metsch (senior), Robert Shalikar (senior), Joseph Grimando (junior), Richard Kehoe (junior) and Joseph Gudzak (sophomore) will carry the defense.
East Brunswick also returns two of its top three scorers, both seniors. Abu Bestawros (forward) scored 10 goals and Nigel Joseph (midfield) had nine goals last season.
Other forwards on the team are Chris Bradley (senior) and Alex Stelicos (junior).
The other midfielders are Nick Canonaco (senior), Anik Ray (sophomore), Coby Kelner, Sameh Mahrous (senior), Dom Pizzano (senior), Matteo Resanovic (senior), Raphi Zonis and Zachary Becker (senior).
"I expect we'll have a very balanced scoring attack," McKibbin said. "That's good. It makes it hard to focus on one player. We'll see where that gets us."
East Brunswick is scheduled to open the season today (Thursday, Sept. 8) at 4 p.m. against St. Joe's, one of its biggest rivals.
"At this point of the year, that game will come down to which team's chemistry is further along," McKibbin noted.
Win or lose, in the long run, this figures to be a very good East Brunswick squad.
"We'd like to win the GMC, the state sectionals and three-peat in the division," McKibbin said. "If everyone buys into the system and shares the work load, we can do all three of those things."
