Piners too much for young Cougars

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Above, Colts Neck’s Lou Chiappone and Lakewood’s Anthony Plascencia battle for the loose ball during Friday’s game in Lakewood. Below, the Cougars’ Thomas Cholua takes control of a 50/50 ball, while at left, Colts Neck captain Justin Plean comes to the realization that his team’s season has come to an end. Colts Neck boys soccer got a glimpse into the future this year, and it sure looks bright.

“I rolled the dice playing so many young kids,” Colts Neck coach Art Collier explained. “The sophomores and freshmen we played this year will be sophomores and juniors next year. They got a taste of winning this year and they won’t be glad just to make the state playoffs.”

The Lakewood Piners closed the door on the 2004 Colts Neck season with a 2-0 win in the quarterfinals of the Central Jersey Group III playoffs Friday morning. It was the identical score the Piners had beaten the Cougars in the Shore Conference Tournament in late October.

“They’re good,” Collier said of Lakewood. “They have a lot of speed. They were bigger, faster and stronger than us. We’re young and we hung in there with them.”

Goalie Matt Novielli kept the Cougars in the quarterfinal match in Lakewood, playing his usual spectacular game in net. While the young Cougars were hanging tough with the Shore Conference B South Division champions, the Piners kept control of the ball in the Colts Neck third of the field for most of the game.

The Piners were clicking with short passes and keeping the ball in their possession. Their spacing and use of the width of the field had the Cougars on the defense. Lakewood also used its size to attack the goal on corner kicks and win the 50/50s in the air.

With all the pressure coming from the Piners, it seemed that sooner or later they would cash in on one of their countless chances. It was later rather than sooner as Novielli continually held them at bay.

It took until the 68th minute for Lakewood to break the scoreless tie, and that was off a scramble in front of the goal, following a long throw-in in the box by Tim Jacobs. No one could get control of the ball and in the confusion, Ted Macconchie slapped the loose ball into the far right corner of the net to get the Piners on the scoreboard.

The Piners added an insurance goal at 76:33 on a through-ball by Anthony Plascencia to Jorge Quevedo, who got free to score on a breakaway.

The fact that the Cougars were in the state quarterfinals was an accomplishment in and of itself. Collier rolled the dice, as he pointed out, playing four freshmen — Sean Hiller, Lou Chiappone, Cameron Sorsby and Justin Calitigirone — serious minutes this year. They matched up against an older, more experienced Piner team Friday and made the Piners earn everything.

The Cougars have plenty to look forward to next year, having played in big games this year and experienced success. All signs point to Colts Neck becoming one of the Shore’s perennial winners.

The state playoffs wouldn’t have been possible is the Cougars hadn’t enjoyed a special season this year.

“We had an outstanding season,” said Collier. “It was a rebuilding year and we won our division [A Central public schools] and made it to the conference and state playoffs. It was a fantastic year.”

Colts Neck, which was seeded fifth in the section, finished the season at 11-6-2. The Cougars won their final home game Nov. 2 beating Hamilton West, 1-0, in the first round of the playoffs.

Novielli, a senior and four-year starter, stopped everything, including a penalty kick, and Tomas Cholula scored the only goal of the match in the second half.

The shutout was Novielli’s eighth of the season and 24th of his career (a Colts Neck record).

“We’re going to miss Matt Novielli,” said Collier. “He’s been tremendous for us. Not many come by like him.”