VIDEO, PHOTOS: Young Middle Township side making strides

Posted: September 25th 2026

Middle Township's Angelo Panzini wins a header against a Bridgeton defender during Thursday's boys soccer game.

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – A Middle Township High School boys soccer team that regularly starts just two seniors is beginning to hit its stride.

The Panthers played a brilliant second half Thursday to pull away from Bridgeton, 4-2, after the teams were tied 1-1 at the half, to win their third straight and for the fourth time in five games.

The Panthers improved to 5-3 overall, 5-2 in the Cape-Atlantic National Conference.

“We are very young, but I feel good about them because they’re getting some really good experience under their belt right now,” Middle coach Scott Kurkowski said. “We only have two seniors in the starting lineup so the rest of them are underclassmen. But they’re really starting to come into their own.”

The lone loss during the recent stretch was a controversial one in a game in which Millville scored off a free kick at the close of regulation that seemed to be spotted 10 yards ahead of where the foul actually occurred to force extra time, then scored a golden goal to post a 2-1 win.

“The Millville result hurt us,” Kurkowski said. “You take that away and we’d be in even better shape.”

Gavin Hirsch (three goals, one assist) and Eben Marroquin de la Cruz are the lone senior starters.

“Gavin’s been awesome because he’s really embraced his role as a senior on a very young team,” Kurkowski said.

The top juniors are forward Angelo Panzini (three goals, two assists), midfielder Carlos Herrera (one goal, one assist), midfielder Alex Cruz, back Alex Covarrubias, back Yunes Bounacer and goalkeeper Dante Duca. Sophomore Nouh Belarbia has also been a solid contributor.

Middle is also getting significant efforts from some freshmen. Midfielder Giuseppe Tenaglia (two goals, two assists) has been so impressive that he’s been wearing the captain’s armband in his first high school season.

“Giuseppe is a special player,” Kurkowski said. “He pretty much checks all the boxes because he does everything at such a high level. He commands the team, he trains at a high level, his communication is amazing and he represents the program the right way.”

Another freshman, forward Carter Evans, has taken the CAL by storm, having scored 10 goals already to go with two assists through eight games, including three in the win over Bridgeton. He scored a ridiculous bicycle kick goal from 18 yards in a win over Pleasantville, video of which went viral online through the local sports community. One of the goals from his hat trick against Bridgeton was an Olympico, scored directly from a corner kick.

“Carter is a true forward. He can finish from anywhere when he’s on the ball in the attacking third,” Kurkowski said. “His anticipation is awesome and for a young kid he’s really playing the right way. It’s great to see him and Angelo playing off each other up front. We knew Carter was going to make an impact but his freshman year so far has been awesome, even better than we anticipated. We’re excited to see what he can do over the next three years.”

Freshman back Cole Leusner had also been a regular starter but is currently out injured.

Kurkowski is excited to see what the rest of the season brings as his team further matures.

“I really like where we are, to be 5-3 and competing well in the conference with such a young team,” he said. “There’s great energy around the team and the fact that we’re young is a really good thing.”