A look at area boys soccer teams: Middle, WCA off to strong starts

Posted: September 12th 2024

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

The boys soccer season began early last week for area high school teams. The local clubs have experienced varying degrees of success to date.

The following is a look at each of the area’s boys soccer teams:

CAPE MAY TECH

Cape May Tech is under the direction of a new head coach in Anthony Cole, who moved up from his role as an assistant after Mark Scarpa left in July to take the head girls soccer coaching position at Middle Township, his alma mater.

The Hawks scored a dramatic win in their season opener last week, edging Salem Tech in penalty kicks in the opening round of the New Jersey Technical Athletic Conference Tournament after a 3-3 draw.

Junior Max Beall, sophomore Connor Bailey and junior Amine Cherifi scored goals, with Beall and Dylan Wilson chipping in goals in the shootout.

The Hawks followed that victory with three losses, 5-0 to Wildwood Catholic, 3-0 to Holy Spirit and 1-0 to Oakcrest.

Tech is fielding a young roster this fall with only a handful of seniors. 

Other key contributors include seniors Bryson Keating and Matthew Pinto, juniors Aiden Wolverton, Rayne Cileone and Dylan Wilson and sophomore Christian Brunell.

LOWER CAPE MAY

An inexperienced group with lower numbers, the Caper Tigers have struggled a bit at the start, suffering three losses to go with a draw.

They opened with a 7-0 loss to Wildwood Catholic, drew 1-1 with Holy Spirit and then this week fell 2-1 to St. Joseph and 4-0 to Highland earlier this week.

Junior back Johnny Montgomery is one of the team’s top players. Senior Ryan Gibson; junior Logan Perkins; sophomores Gavin Ridgway, Chris Duley and Adam Marshal; and freshman Stephen Lutjen are also contributors.

Lower Cape May is coached by Cristian Valencia, who is in his second season in charge.

MIDDLE TOWNSHIP

Middle Township began the season with a pair of shutout victories before falling 3-2 in extra time to Ocean City on Wednesday.

The Panthers breezed past Absegami, 3-0, behind goals by junior Kyle Pettit, senior Eddie Hirsch and junior Guilherme Candido, before scoring a dramatic 1-0 win over Absegami on a goal by Pettit in extra time. Junior Miles Stafford posted the shutout in goal in both games.

Hirsch and freshman Angelo Panzini each scored in the loss at Ocean City.

Middle, with all but one of its starters back from a season ago, hopes to contend for the Cape-Atlantic National Conference title and a place in the CAL playoff tournament.

Other key players for Middle include seniors Colin Jastremski, Joe Berrodin, Phil Woodrow and David DelConte and juniors Lucas Matthews, Josiel Lopez, Sam Casterline, C.J. Heun and Mario Tenaglia.

New varsity players expected to contribute include junior Antonio Panzini, sophomores Eben Marroquin De La Cruz and Gavin Hirsch.

Scott Kurkowski is in his fourth season as head coach.

WILDWOOD

Wildwood went into Wednesday’s non-league game with Absegami having split its first two games. The Warriors fell 2-1 in a spirited contest with Pitman in their season opener before bouncing back with a 4-0 victory over Pennsville.

Forward Noureddine “Nunu” Bedderi,  senior transfer from Algeria, has been a nice addition to the team’s offense, having accounted for three of the team’s five goals through two games. Sophomore Michael Blanda and junior Alex Osario also have goals.

Other key returning players for Wildwood include seniors Kelan Miller, Gavin Burns, Tyler Brown, R.J. Blanda, Ahmed Djellal, Chris Hernandez, Daniel Matias and goalkeeper Broc Denke; juniors Angel Gonzalez, Angel Lara and Miguel Ramirez Cruz; and sophomore Alex Palomec.

Seniors Jayden Cano Soto and Angel Velazquez and freshmen twins Angel DeJesus and Oscar DeJesus are among the top newcomers.

Wildwood, which has never won a title of any kind in program history, expects to compete for the Tri-County Classic Division title.

The Warriors are led by head coach Sal Zampirri, now in his third season.

WILDWOOD CATHOLIC

Wildwood Catholic has been one of the surprise teams of the Cape-Atlantic League through the first few games of the season.

Coming off a 7-12 season a year ago, the Crusaders have gone unscored upon while netting 17 goals of their own in running out to victories in each of their first three games, which included wins over Lower Cape May, Cape May Tech and Oakcrest.

Junior Calvin Kiker (six goals), senior Teddy Woolery (four goals) and sophomore Nick Catanoso (three goals) are leading the team in scoring. Kiker is a transfer from Middle Township while Woolery and Catanoso are returning starters.

Senior Jack Cavenas and junior Alex Daniel have combined for the shutouts in goal.

Other key returnees include seniors Gonzalo Gonzales, Chase Critchfield, Christian Sorensen and Chase Adams; junior Chris Papageorgiou; and sophomore Michael Sexton.

Wildwood Catholic also has a talented freshmen class that includes Charlie Flickinger, Evan Papageorgiou, Joey Tenaglia and Theo Margarites.

Judging by its start to the season, there’s no reason to believe Wildwood Catholic can’t compete for the CAL United Conference title.

Tommy Bolle is in his second season as head coach.

(Photos courtesy Wildwood Catholic boys soccer)

Evan Papageorgiou (right) is one of a number of freshmen contributing to the Wildwood Catholic boys soccer team.