Holmdel Boys and Girls Soccer Win First Round State Playoffs

Photo: Holmdel’s Nicolas Zolofra (7) , Hunter Chapman (14), Tom Rogan (10) , Brendan Wall (24) , and Rohan Gandhi (11) battle Robbinsville for the ball.

On Monday, the Holmdel boys varsity team opened it’s first round state playoff game with a strong victory, soundly defeating Robbinsville 6-2.

Senior Robert Ceriello got the scoring started and before the half was over, his teammates Hunter Chapman, Gino D’Agostino and Brendan Wall each added another goal, to give Holmdel a 4-1 lead at the half. Robbinsville was able to come out and narrow the gap a bit in the second half, with Brian Wojton scoring his second goal of the game, but Holmdel tightened its defense and regained control of the tempo, denying Robbinsville and further serious scoring opportunities. Brendan Wall and Gino D’Agostino each chipped in another score to guarantee the win. Eric D’Aleo, Brian Healy, as well as Wall, Chapman and Ceriello, each contributed with an assist.

Holmdel’s defense has been very strong the second half of the season, as the Hornets, (11-7-1) are 8-1-1 in the last 10 games. The back line is comprised of seniors, Nicolas Zolofra, Eric D’Aleo, Tom Rogan and Brian Healy. Their team is going to be counting on them to hold that line in its next game, as the boys travel to Delran on Friday to play the #2 seed in Central Jersey Group 2. This is a rematch of last year’s quarter final game, as Delran travelled to Holmdel and upset the top seeded Hornets on penalty kicks. This year Holmdel is the #7 seed and comes into Delran as the underdog, looking to avenge the earlier loss.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the girls team had a much harder time in their 2-1 win over Matawan. The Huskies are a divisional opponent and the girls had already faced them twice this year, winning 4-2 and 6-0. Girls varsity coach Jennifer Conroy dislikes facing a divisional opponent in the playoffs, as its hard to play the same team 3 times in the same season. Matawan came in to this game strong and prepared with little to lose and everything to gain and gave Holmdel a battle.

Holmdel opened the scoring first, about 18 minutes into the first half as junior Hannah Lee was able to connect on a pass from Gabby Bair. Holmdel was able to control the flow of the game until almost the end of the first half when Matawan was able to equalize.

Holmdel controlled the second half but was unable to get off many strong scoring opportunities until the 72 minute when junior Gabby Bair received a pass from Hannah Lee and gently tapped it past Matawan goalkeeper Kacey Lambertson for what would prove to be the winning goal. Holmdel out shot Matawan 15-8. Gabby Bair now has 16 goals on the season (9 assists) and Hannah Lee has 12 goals (11 assists).

The #4 seed Hornets retain their home field and will face # 5 A.L. Johnson on Friday at Roggy Field in the Central Jersey Group 2 quarter finals.

Best of luck to the student athletes in their next round of games.