Holmdel Soccer Wins Over Both Hazlet Teams

The Holmdel girls soccer team is off to a fast start this year. The girls traveled to Hazlet and beat Raritan 3-0 in a game that was all Holmdel from the first whistle. Junior forward Gabby Bair scored the first goal for the Hornets about 25 minutes in to the first half on a pass from junior Victoria Wuestneck. In the second half, junior forward Hannah Lee had a pair of goals. Credit needs to be given to Bair and freshman Kailey Flynn with one assist each. The girls’ record now stands at a perfect 3-0 (2-0). Holmdel had 15 shots and Raritan goalkeeper Kayla Quinn had 9 saves on the day. Holmdel goalkeeper senior Helen Burleigh picked up her first shutout of the year. Raritans’ record falls to 1-2. This was the first of two divisional matches between these two teams, who will meet again later in the season, as each team in the division plays each other twice.

Back at Roggy field, the Holmdel boys soccer team got back on track with a strong win over A Central division rival Raritan and improved their record to 2-2 (2-0). Holmdel got on the board very quickly this game, less then three minutes in, with a goal by sophomore forward Brendan Wall off a pass from junior Nick Chrystal. Raritan equalized with 15 minutes to go in the first half on a goal by Ryan Casciani. But there was to be no momentum for Hazlet, as Holmdel’s offensive tightened its control of the game. senior Gino D’Agostino took over and scored what would be the winning goal on a pass from Wall, with 8 minutes remaining in the first half.

The second half belonged all to Holmdel, as most of the half was played on their offensive side of the field. Brendan Wall had a busy game, adding an insurance goal 10 minutes into the half. Wall received the ball up the middle at about the 50 yard line, ran it up the field on a breakaway and with complete control, chipped it over the keepers head as he came off his line to narrow Wall’s angle.

Holmdel goalkeeper Michael Carannante had 2 saves this match.

Both Holmdel teams play Manasquan on Wednesday, The girls are at home with a 5:30 p.m. game at Roggy field and the boys are away with a 4 p.m. game at the Sea Girt Armory. Both teams now enter a stretch against divisional rivals. These games are important to determine who wins the division and to determine seeding in the Shore Conference tournament in October.

Our student athletes are exciting to watch so pick a game and come on out to support the teams. I will see you there.