First-place Braves are finding ways to win

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Above Freehold Township goalie A.J. Hamami makes a tough save in front of a Manalapan player during a game onSept. 22 in Manalapan. At left, the Braves’ Brandon Cohen heads the ball up field. You take every win in the A North Division and don’t ask questions.The division is so tough in boy’s soccer, top to bottom, that no win is taken for granted. Coaches don’t care if it is pretty or not, just as long as you win.

Manalapan High School has emerged out of this fracas as the team to beat. The Braves have managed to dodge defeat through the first half of the season and find themselves on top, sporting a 6-0 division mark and 7-0 overall.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT PILLING staff “We’ve been doing enough to win,” said head coach John Natoli. “I’m a little surprised [at being 7-0] because the division is so tough.

“We have to keep it [the start] in perspective,” he added. “There are a lot of tough games ahead.”

One of those games was Thursday against Freehold Township. The Patriots (2-3) were looking to build on a 1-0 win against Middletown North that put them within a game of .500. They played with the desperation of a team that needed a win.

The game turned into a defensive struggle. After a scoreless first half, it became apparent that one goal would be enough to win the match, and it was Manalapan that found a way to score that lone goal.

A long throw-in from Dan Musto created a scramble in the goal area. Erik Ilisije took the possession of the ball and passed it to Dan DeLorenzo, who put a volley into the right corner of the Patriot goal in the 51st minute of the match.

The Brave defense and goalie Jake Grinkevich made it stand up, and Manalapan had another defining victory.

As these wins add up, so does Manalapan’s confidence.

“The kids keep working hard, and now, they expect to win,” Natoli said.

Midfield play has been Manalapan’s catalyst. Natoli has been using a rotation of five players to keep fresh legs on the field. Adam Rice, Ilisije, DeLorenzo, Markous Samaan and Julian Valerio make up the quintet who have been dominating games.

“We build from midfield and control the field,” Natoli said. “They work hard and are skilled players.”

Forward George Quintano has become the closer up front — the player who can finish the scoring chances that the midfielders create.

Seniors Brett Fenimore and Alex Baker, two of the team’s most experienced players, have been leading the defensive charge, joined there by Brandon Cohen and Musta.

As a unit, they cover well and make it difficult for teams to get shots on net. When shots do get through, the Braves have been relying on a freshman to be the good hands man.

Grinkevich isn’t in goal because Natoli had no one else to turn to. He’s there because he earned it against some pretty good goalies.

“He’s very good,” Natoli said. “He plays like a senior. I could see for myself that he has got skills. He came out and won the job.”

Grinkevich doesn’t play or act like a freshman on the field. He, Fenimore and Baker communicate well and the freshman isn’t hesitant to direct traffic around the goal.

Manalapan has built a cushion for itself as the second half of the A North season gets under way this week. It will be walking the gauntlet as teams like Ocean (second in the division at 4-1-1) and Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) (3-2) seek revenge.

Then there are teams like Howell (a loser in double overtime to Manalapan) who would like to reverse the results from the first time around.

The Braves, though, have what the others don’t have, wins over them and first place to themselves.

Manalapan began the turnaround yesterday hosting Ocean. Tomorrow, the Braves are at Marlboro (3-3), and on Oct. 3, travel to Lincroft to play CBA.