The Fair Lawn boys soccer team has modest goals for the 2010 season. Following last year's 5-11 outing, reaching the .500 mark – and a possible berth in the state tournament – will be a top priority.
Head coach Carlyle Myrie, in his second year, will be looking to goalie Jeff Paer to keep their opponents in check. It won't be an easy task.
Thanks to the realignment of leagues and divisions, Fair Lawn faces some formidable competition in the newly formed Big North league. So far, the team has been keeping up with tough opponents, but falling short in the end. Opening day against last year's North Bergen Interscholastic League Division I co-champ Ramapo brought a tight 2-1 loss, with Paer posting nine saves. On Monday, the Cutters suffered their third close loss in three games this season, falling 2-1 to Northern Highlands, a team that went 13-5-1 in 2009.
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A busy with continues on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. with Demarest, which returns 12 seniors who have loads of playing time together; then back-to-back contests on Friday against Jersey City's Dickinson (always strong) at 5 p.m. and on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Big North foe St. Joseph's of Montvale, which is in a rebuilding year but can never be counted out.
Striker Steve Hunal and Zach Gordon are up top, brothers Dan and Chris Nugent are in the midfield and backfield, respectively, and captain Sali Vlashi will patrol the back line.
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The season promises to be just as interesting on the girls' side.
Last season, the Cutters qualified for the Bergen County and state tournaments, and wrapped up the season with a 9-11 record.
Head coach John Van Soest is surely hoping to maintain the momentum.
Van Soest has a pair of strong veterans holding down the back line in Jenn Stefanik (sweeper) and Kerri Oetting (stopper). The two seniors will play in front of junior goalie Kessiah Tolentino, who was busy with 15 saves in the opening day 7-0 loss to Ramapo.
The Cutters return a talented, experienced team with tons of depth, evidenced by the 50-plus player turnout for optional practices this past summer.
They, too, have a busy week ahead, with Northern Highlands (Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.), Demarest (Thursday, 7 p.m.) and Paramus Catholic (Saturday, 10 a.m.) on the slate.
