Mounties Boys Soccer Seeks Breakthrough

The loss to Livingston in the 2010 state playoff tournament was pretty much indicative of all the losses for the Montclair boys soccer team.

The Mounties severely out shot the Lancers in the second round of the Group 4 North 1 state playoff game, but Montclair lost 2-1 while finishing with an 8-9-1 record.

"The record was not indicative of how hard we played," said Montclair head coach Jack Weber.

The Mounties out shot the rival Livingston, 15-4, including 11 shots against the Lancers goalie in the second half, but not enough for what would have been an upset at Livingston, a team that Montclair had dominated in the past until the last two years with four straight losses.

The lack of scoring last season was the result of a young squad. It was also the toughest in terms of offense in Weber’s 25 years in coaching.

"Some of that was a little bit of inexperience and lack of maturity," said Weber about last season.

Another game that haunted both Weber and the 2010 Mounties was a 3-2 shootout loss to Science Park in the Essex County Tournament, a game that Montclair led 2-0 at one time.

While the 2011 Mounties are relatively young especially upfront, they have more experience and are looking to make a dent in all three arenas, the Super Essex Conference American, Essex County Tournament and the state tournament.

After facing West Essex at home on Thursday in the season opener, Weber will see how his team has improved when they host the Lancers on Monday.

And it starts with the threesome of junior Oliver Murphy, sophomore Alexander Patel and sophomore Joseph Rodriguez that the Mounties are going to look to break out from that offensive slump that hit them in 2010.

"We'll have to see what they had learned from the lessons of last year," said Weber. "It's a matter of scoring then we'll be in good shape."

Some of it might have been mental—similar to a baseball hitter in a slump that just hits the ball to the fielder and can't find the opening to hit the ball. Like the Livingston game, the ball would either be kicked wide or hit a post.

"You have to work and create your own opportunities," said Weber.

One of the biggest holes to fill for Weber was the graduation of goal keeper Matthew Stith, who is playing for Syracuse University this season.

With Stith graduated, senior Daniel Cartwright gets his chance this season on the varsity after the Montclair coach wanted to give him plenty of playing time on the junior varsity.

"He has been working hard and did all what we wanted him to do during the summer," said Weber about Cartwright, who leads a very deep group of netminders.

Along with the trio of scoring threats, the Mounties have senior Jordan Ellison and senior Evan Uscatu who can play in the middle and forward.

For this season, Montclair sees the return of senior Jesse Hamilton, who struggled with injuries last season and can play on every part of the field.

While Livingston is definitely a rival, Montclair knows they will have to get by Seton Hall Prep if they want to claim the American division title and the Essex County title. The first of two contests with the Pirates is Sept. 21 at home. In addition to Livingston and Seton Hall Prep, Montclair will have tough battles with West Orange and Millburn.
   
Montclair 2011 boys soccer schedule
(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted. Home games are at Fortunato Field.)

Sept. 8          West Essex
Sept. 12        Livingston
Sept. 14        at Columbia
Sept. 16        at Millburn
Sept. 21        Seton Hall Prep
Sept. 23        at East Side
Sept. 26        West Orange
Sept. 28        Bloomfield, 3 p.m.
Sept. 30        at West Essex
Oct. 4            at Livingston, 7 p.m.
Oct. 6            Columbia
Oct. 13           Millburn
Oct. 17           at Seton Hall Prep
Oct. 20           East Side
Oct. 25           at West Orange
Oct. 28           Hunterdon Central, 4:15 p.m.