EWING – With a mix of experienced players and rookies, The College of New Jersey’s men’s soccer team is hopeful that this combination of talent will yield success.
Out of the rookies, several freshmen have stood out as solid contributors for the Lions.
“I think Michael Kayal has done a good job in goal as a freshman coming in, and he has pretty much given us opportunities to win games,” said TCNJ head coach George Nazario. “Some of the games obviously didn’t go with the wind, but he’s always kept us in games to this point.”
The Lions are looking to change that turn of the wind at as they face the Manhattanville College Valiants on Wednesday, Oct. 4. The match, which will take place at TCNJ’s Soccer Complex at 3 p.m., will be yet another test of the Lions’ ability to claim victory in close games.
The Valiants compete in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom division, and according to their conference, are currently ranked 3rd. The team has an overall record of 5-5, and is currently 1-0 in their conference.
The College of New Jersey squad, 4-5-2 overall and 0-2-2 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), have been tough competitors so far this season. The team has battled in four games that have gone into overtime or double overtime, but they have yet to come out of these tight games with a win.
“We are a possession oriented team that can create offensive chances, but we need to be a little bit better in terms of defending,” said Nazario. “We wind up creating our fair share of chances in games, unfortunately the
shots don’t go in. But, I think the goals that we are giving up are significant in that fact that we aren’t tuned in for the 90 minutes. We have to get better on that end.”
Experienced players on the team include senior forward Michael Kassak, who currently leads the team with four assists. Senior midfielder Peter Dresch and junior midfielder Nick Sample have also been dependable contributors. James Pike, a freshman midfielder, is currently leading the team in scoring with three goals so far this season.
“James Pike has done well as our leading scorer with two assists. Kevin Esteves and Ethan Mueller are also both freshmen,” said Nazario. “A lot of guys are getting playing time. It was a pretty big recruiting class that we had, so I think the older guys have given them guidance with what to expect at this level.”
Michael Kayal has started all 11 games as goalkeeper and has racked up 46 saves, while only allowing 18 goals.
The Valiants have an experienced defensive line, only allowing three goals in the team’s last four games. Senior defender Ryan Trainor was named MAC Freedom’s Offensive Player of the Week after assisting on two second-half goals in a 6-0 win over Brooklyn College. Trainor then went on to score his first collegiate, and ultimately game winning, goal in the team’s highly contested conference game against Eastern University in a 3-1 victory.
Senior forward Oskar Martinsson leads Manhattanville in scoring with five goals. Jon Kyriakidis, a freshman midfielder who, three weeks ago, also received the title of MAC Freedom’s Offensive Player of the Week, has four goals and four assists this season.
Yet another close match is expected, and it will be up to the Lions to keep their concentration high for the full length of the game against Manhattanville to secure a victory.
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