Playing for the fifth time in seven games, it was evident that the Manalapan boys' soccer team was spent on Friday afternoon.
The Braves didn't register a goal, in a 4-0 loss to the Howell Rebels, while playing at the through a constant rain.
"It has to do a lot with our schedule," Manalapan head coach John Natoli said of the Braves' struggles, "We really came out lethargic today. For the most part, we didn't get started until half-time, and it's way too late by that point."
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Manalapan had a number of chances -- particluarly early on -- but several long throw-ins from John Rogers fell empty, and Howell was able to capitalize on the misses.
Ryan Nascimento provided the Braves' with their best chance of the day, but his penalty kick in the early stages of the second half was saved by a diving Luke Weber.
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Nascimento nearly gave Manalapan the lead in the first half when his cross was missed by Evan Pruden.
Marco Fernandez later struck a shot off of a corner kick, but the shot was stopped by a number of Rebels' defenders and never reached the goal.
Nascimento had another chance in the second half, but his free kick was saved, again, by Howell's Weber.
Defender Matthew Samaan almost put the Braves' on the board late in the game, but his shot off of a corner kick sailed just high of the cross-bar.
"It's just a matter of being hungry or getting a bounce. We're really being reactive instead of proactive and we're not anticipating the ball very well," Natoli said.
After surrendering three goals in the first half, Natoli pulled keeper A.J. Horvath and replaced him with Jason Cocklin, who allowed just one second-half goal.
After the Rebels three first-half goals, they were able to cruise to a comfortable win.
"I'm hoping that the next time we play [Howell] it will be a different result," Natoli said, "Our team is definitely good enough, it's just a matter of putting it together."
The Braves will play again on Monday, Sept. 26 at Middletown North High School at 3:45 p.m.
