Just about everything that the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys soccer team wanted to accomplish this season came into fruition. The Raider boys captured the Union County Tournament (UCT) crown, went on to capture the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 crown then won the Group 4 semifinal before falling short for the Group 4 crown to finish with a 19-2-2 record.
With the incredible leadership of team captains, center midfielder Luca Passucci, and defenders Jack Sponheimer and Devin Pearce, the Raiders controlled the tempo and outscored their opponents, 58-12, yielding slightly more than 0.5 goals per game. They permitted only two goals in three of their games and recorded 15 shutouts, which included two in the UCT and three in the sectional tournament. Junior goalkeepers Shawn Guzmen recorded 52 saves and Nikos Zoganas recorded three saves.
“Our three senior captains Luca, Devin, and Jack complement each other well and led the team. They were a big part of our success and will be missed,” Raider Head Coach Alex Passucci said.
The Raiders started out like a ball of fire, winning their first 10 games, beginning with a 5-0 shutout of the Plainfield Cardinals. After shutting out Union City, 4-0, the Raiders went to overtime with then No. 10 Montclair but prevailed, 3-2, when freshman midfielderAnastasio Pavlou nailed the winner. Senior midfielder Caden Matulonis netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over a solid Rahway Indian squad that would finish 17-7-1.
After defeating the Union Farmers, 3-1, five straight shutout victories followed – Old Bridge (5-0), Elizabeth (1-0), Governor Livingston (10), Oratory Prep (2-0), Freehold Township (1-0, 2 overtimes).Another shutout followed but this time, the Raiders were on the short end of a 10, overtime loss to the hosting Westfield Blue Devils. The Raiders recovered to shut out Memorial, 3-0, then tied Howell, 1-1.
The UCT was next and the Raiders nipped Rahway, 1-0, in a shootout. After beating Oratory Prep, 2-0, in the semifinal, the Raiders tied Randolph, 0-0, in a regular-season game, before claiming the UCT crown with a 2-1 triumph over Westfield.
The next goal was to win the section title and the Raiders began with a 7-0 wipeout of the Linden Tigers and followed with a 5-2 win over Dickinson. After shutting out Newark East Side, 5-0, in the semifinal, the Raiders got what they wanted when they shut out Westfield, 3-0, for the crown. In the Group 4 semifinal, the Raiders had a wild one with the Ridgewood Maroon but scored in the second overtime for a 3-2 win. The Group 4 title game had the Southern Regional Rams winning, 2-0.
Junior forward Jayvon Young used his speed and quickness to lead the team in scoring with 18 goals and six assists for 42 points. Pavlou was next with 11 goals and five assists for 27 points. Luca Passucci led the team with 11 assists and added four goals to finish with 19 points and Devin Pearce finished with four goals and three assists for 11 points.
Senior midfielder Sam Valera had four goals and an assist. Sophomore forward Colin Kochanowicz netted three goals and three assists. Sponheimer finished with two goals and four assists and junior midfielder Darren Edelman had three goals and an assist. Junior back Brad Pearce recorded a goal and three assists. Matulonis had two goals and an assist. Senior midfielder Sam Lindell had a goal and three assists and junior forward Ryan Watt had a goal and two assists.
Sophomore back Massimo Passucci dished out four assists and freshman Aavik Akarte was the one who scored the double-overtime winner against Ridgewood. Seniors Colin Mahr and Giovanni Marrese each scored once, senior Dylan Anger had two assists and senior Kareem Elkomy had one assist.
Young scored twice in the win over Old Bridge and scored the overtime winner against Freehold Township. Young and Kochanowicz scored in the UCT win over Westfield. Young nailed a hat trick (3 goals) against Dickinson and scored twice, while Luca Passucci scored once and added an assist in the section win over Westfield. Young and Pavlou scored in regulation against Ridgewood.
Sponheimer scored the winner over Elizabeth and Devin Pearce scored the winner over Governor Livingston. Pavlou scored in the tie with Howell. Valera scored twice in the win over Newark East Side.
The Raiders do graduate a fine group of seniors but will return a well-seasoned group of athletes next year.
“We are very proud of the boys. It was a remarkable season. They created memories for themselves and the community,” Coach Passucci expressed.
