Ocean Township Soccer Opens Some Eyes With Shutout Win Over Red Bank

Photo: All-Shore midfielder Wadneson Alexis

OCEAN TOWNSHIP - For a program as successful as Ocean Township soccer has been the past 30 years under head coach Tom Reilly, the Spartans came into this season flying way under the radar with most prognosticators writing this season off as a rebuilding year.

Grant it, they did lose some great players – three All-Shore picks - from last season’s team that won 12 games and the Class B North title. But the Spartans have a history of reloading year-after-year even when faced with crippling loses due to graduating seniors, such is the case this year. However, they do return first-team All-Shore forward Wadneson Alexis after scoring 12 goals - including five game winners - in a sensational sophomore season.

“Wadneson was hurt in the preseason,” Reilly said. “He didn’t play in our first three games, then came back and played about 15 minutes against Neptune on Monday before playing the full 80 minutes Wednesday in the Red Bank win; he gave us a big lift just being in the lineup and scored in both games for us as well.”

The Spartans (3-2) put together an impressive 3-0 win over Red Bank Regional (3-1) - a senior dominated team, ranked No.9 in the Shore Conference – and they now find themselves back on the map and into the thick of things in the Class B North, as well as in the overall scheme of things in the Shore Conference picture.

A game this early in the season wouldn’t normally be considered a must-win game; however, that game was as close to it as you can get for the Spartans. It served as verification to its young players that they can play with the best in the Shore and compete with confidence.

“As far as establishing ourselves, gaining confidence and progressing this was definitely a big win for us,” Reilly said. “It puts us at 2-0 in the division, but as far as this being a ‘must-win-game’ I think it’s way too early for that.”

The Spartans scored three unanswered goals in the first half against Red Bank and never let the Buccaneers back in the game. Junior forward Marlhens Nasanes scored his first goal of the season and picked up his second and third assist of the year. Alexis scored his second goal of the season, while sophomore Joe Abrams scored his first goal of his varsity career. Sophomore midfielder Jordan Ornowski picked up his first varsity assist.

Junior goalie Yanni Kavarakas – the brother of graduated All-Shore midfielder George Kavarakas - has some big shoes to fill in replacing 2013 first-team All-Shore goalie Chris Seager, had 12 saves in the game for his second consecutive shutout of the year.

“Yanni had an awesome game against Red Bank,” Reilly said. “Red Bank’s a potent team and created a decent amount of chances but Yanni made some great saves. We jumped out to the early lead and they were pressing to get back in it but Yanni was big for us. He controlled the area and made some outstanding reaction saves.”

After their rough season opening loss, the Spartans have won three of four now, with their only blemish being a 3-0 loss to Montclair – the No. 13 team in the state. The Spartans beat Red Bank Catholic 3-2 in their second game for their first win of the season with sophomore midfielder Cosimo Franze not only tallying his first goal of his varsity career but the game winner with 1:47 remaining in the match; not a bad way to explode on the scene.

Reilly was excited to see Franze get the game winner, “Cosy is a super hard working kid; he’ll work his socks off for you. He always goes a 100 miles an hour but sometimes his exuberance gets the better of him. He’s young and he’ll learn when it’s time to put his foot on the ball and slow things down. He’s totally committed to the game and the program and it was nice to see him get the reward because he works his butt off for us; it was a hard-working goal too.”

Junior defenseman Ryan Wells and senior midfielder Teddy Eugenis both found the back of the net in the RBC game for their first goals of the season, and Abrams, Alexis and Nasanes all contributed assists.

Senior midfielder Claudio Martins and Alexis pushed the Spartans past Neptune, 2-0, for their second win of the season in a game that they dominated, and if not for Neptune goalie Irvin Rodriquez’ 18 saves the margin of victory would’ve been much greater. Martins and junior midfielder Jack Rose added assists. Kavarakas notched the shutout stopping two shots as the Spartan defense suffocated the Fliers attack.

“Claudio’s been on the team for three years now and has been through the championships,” Reilly said. “It’s now his turn to be a leader and Teddy Eugenis is our other senior – we only start two seniors – so Teddy and Claudio are the guys whose voice in the locker room is heard.”

“We knew we’d be inexperienced and it would take some time to sort things out and get everyone playing on the same page.” Reilly added. “That’s why we got off to a slow start in addition to not having Alexis in the lineup. The way our team is structured we’re going to need everyone to contribute and that’s happened so far. We’re learning on the fly but figuring out how to get results as we’re doing it. Judging from the Red Bank game we’re making great strides and I expect us to continue making strides.”

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