Foursome Leaves Imprint on Chargers' Soccer Program

For any team to achieve greatnessm it takes exceptional talent—not just at one position, but at many.

The boys' soccer team doesn’t win a conference championship without the goalkeeping of Andrew Garcia. It doesn’t earn a No. 1 seed for the Group III playoffs without the ability to turn defense into offense that Alex Lolli possessed. It doesn’t a win South Jersey Group III title without the goal-scoring of Jeff Morgan. The Chargers don’t play for a state title without the ball-handling skills of Sonimi Halliday.

All four players—along with a host of others—played vital roles in the unprecedented success the team had last fall. So it was fitting that all four players declared their future together.

Garcia, Lolli, Halliday and Morgan signed their letters of intent Wednesday afternoon at the Timber Creek Media Center. Garcia (St. Francis University) and Halliday (Rider University) each received partial scholarships to compete at the Division I level, while Morgan (Stockton College) and Lolli (Widener University) will continue their soccer careers—and education—in Division III.

Each player chose a different ending point, but together rode the path that took them there.

“We worked really hard for the last four years and it’s great that we now moved on to the next point in our lives and we get to still play soccer for the next four years,” said Morgan. “It’s really a great feeling.”

“We all have a lot of talent and it shows in the schools we are going to,” said Garcia.

Head coach Sean Ortzman and many of the Chargers players were in attendance Wednesday, sharing a special moment with a group that helped change the identity of the program.

“It’s outstanding,” said Otzman. “We had such a great year and they all worked hard. They all gave it their all and came together. They knew this could be something special for them and it was with a run to the state finals."

The fact that they got to share the moment together was not lost on any of the student-athletes.

“It’s really nice to have my senior teammates here because we had such a great experience on the soccer team,” said Lolli. “We broke a lot of records and it’s great to see me and some of my teammates going off to college.”

Each player cited different reasons for choosing the school they did, ranging from team chemistry to a motivating coach.

“They have a new coach and I’m looking forward to working with the team (and) the style of play. Everything contributes little by little,” Halladay said of his decision to attend Rider. “I’m honestly looking forward to it.”

Educational opportunities proved the common thread for each player in his decision-making process. As great as their soccer careers have been and could continue to be, they understand it will be the education that takes them the furthest.

“Say I don’t get a chance to play or I get injured, Stockton’s still a great place and I would love to spend my next for years there,” said Morgan.

The foursome—with a fifth college player in Giuseppe DeLuca likely to follow—leave behind a program that now knows and understands winning at the highest level. Ortzman has already seen the impact the senior class has had on his younger players.

“It was great leadership for the young crew to see,” said Ortzman. “I can’t tell you how many kids are coming back out for the program that are working out now. It’s a big boost for the program.”

Then Ortzman left to go to the weight room where a host of soccer players were waiting to train—in February.

It’s safe to say the impact has already begun.