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EWING– The second half of a season is considered to be a “make or break” point and can truly be one of the most difficult obstacles for any competitive team. It’s a telling time of the year for teams to show what they are actually made of, and who can finish off the strenuous campaign at a high level to propel themselves into a successful playoff run.
With its second half of the regular season underway, The College of New Jersey men’s soccer team will look to prove themselves as serious contenders in the 2015 postseason.
At this point in the 2014 season, the Lions held a record of 3-6-2 with their backs against the ropes to earn their spot in the playoffs.
But, 2015 has taken a slightly different path, however, as the Lions have hit the ground running in the first half of the season, holding a 6-3-2 record and putting themselves in an ideal position for a potentially deep postseason stretch.
Standing at an exact opposite record compared to last season, the Lions have the utmost confidence in making the most of their already successful season.
“This year’s team has greater ambition and a stronger mentality,” said midfielder Matt Taylor. “This is largely due to the attitudes of our captains (Greg Kaye, Dan McMillan, and Nick Costelloe).”
Taylor stressed that they’ve played an influential role in instilling passion, confidence, and dedication in each member of the team.
“These attributes have led to a higher quality of play on the field as well as a great bond off the field,” said Taylor.
The Lions set the tone of their season right off the bat, rolling past York College in a 5-0 shutout in their season debut. Along the way, the team maintained a high intensity of play, remaining undefeated through their first seven games of the season.
In addition to their strong starting lineup, the Lions also feature more depth on their roster than in recent years to keep the team fresh and stay competitive.
“There are plenty of guys that can come off the bench and have an impact on the game,” said Taylor. “The team also consists of a lot of versatile players; ones that can step into different roles and positions when needed.”
Great depth on the team gives the Lions the luxury of being a dynamic squad and surely a headache for opponents to combat and prepare for. Late in the season, this depth could very well be the defining factor for the team, especially when injuries and fatigue come about.
Recently, the Lions seemed to have met their toughest point of the season thus far with a 1-3 record in their last four matches, being outscored 10-4. Although the Lions faced adversity in their only three losses of the season, they are sure it will not get the best of the team.
“After a few discouraging losses, our team is motivated now more than ever to conquer our opponents,” said forward Mike Schiumo. “We have increased our efforts off the field to recover from games and stay healthy, and are looking back on our mistakes to ensure that they don’t happen again.”
The Lions also take pride in the family-like atmosphere the team has created in their time together.
“This year we’ve seen a transition in the way the team interacts,” said Schiumo. “We have increased our efforts to bond and create a family; this is not seen in all of our opponents.”
This type of environment has proved to be a unique intangible for the Lions, especially during difficult games and motivating each other in practices.
Hardwork. Leadership. Depth. Success. Family. All these ingredients make the perfect recipe for the Lions to continue their journey and facing the tough road ahead against their respective New Jersey Athletic Conference opponents.
For the Lions, the collective vision is simple:
“Our goal is to win the NJAC outright,” said Schiumo.
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