UPDATED: Belleville HS boys soccer team seeks successful season

BELLEVILLE, NJ – The Belleville High School boys soccer team hopes to have a successful season, looking to improve on last year’s three-win season.

The Bucs defeated Orange, 4-2, in the season opener Sept. 6.

Here is a look at this year’s Buccaneers.

Head coach: Gary Polewka.

Captains:

• Kevin Manjarrez, senior
• Bryan Guerra, senior
• Christian Cumbe, junior

Key Returning Players:

• Kevin Manjarrez, senior midfielder
• Fernando Pesantez, senior goalkeeper
• Bryan Guarquila, senior midfielder
• Lucas Fonseca, senior left back
• Christian Cumbe, junior right back
• Fernando Fajardo, junior midfielder. He is coming off an ACL surgery in which he missed all of his sophomore year.

New Players to Watch:

• Johan Capellan, junior center back
• Jonathan Ruiz, sophomore midfielder
• Brendon Diaz, sophomore striker
• Ariel Guaman, sophomore center back
• Luis Juca Cadena, junior midfielder. “He is a transfer from Irvington who fits right in with us, great kid,” Polewka said.
• Gerber Coreas, freshman defender. He is the only freshman  to make the varsity team.

Starting Lineup:

Goalie:

Fernando Pesantez,  senior (four-year starter).

Defense: 

Lucas Fonseca, senior returning.

Ariel Guaman , sophomore

Johan Capellan, junior

Christian Cumbe, junior returning.

Midfield:

Fernando Fajardo, junior returning from injury.

Bryan Guarquila, senior returning.

Kevin Manjarrez, senior returning (four-year starter).

Jonathan Ruiz, sophomore, played in a few games as a freshman, but did not letter.

Forwards:

Jonnathan Sanchez, junior returning.

Brendon Diaz, sophomore, also played in a few games as a freshman, but did not letter.

What Polewka and his staff like about team:

“The team, especially the seniors, are hungry to contend for the division title. They see their potential as a team. Most important is that they play with heart and leave everything they have on the field.”

Goals for season:

Win the SEC-Colonial Division; make a run in county tournament (Belleville will host the semifinals); and earn a home game in the state tournament. “In order to achieve these goals, we need to stay healthy and focused on the big picture, but take it one game at a time,” Polewka said.

Noteworthy:

Fernando Pesantez was Honorable Mention All-State in his sophomore and junior seasons.

“This summer we entered the team into the Montclair State summer league, Livingston summer league, West Essex tournament and Harrison tournament,” Polewka said. “We will also have volunteer help again from former head coach Lenny Marino.”

The SEC-Colonial Division includes Central, West Side, Belleville, Science, Barringer, Technology, Orange, Golda Och and Shabazz.

In the season-opening win over Orange, Brendon Diaz, Johan Capellan, Kevin Manjarrez and Jonathan Ruiz scored the goals.  Jonathan Ruiz, Kevin Riera and Lucas Fonseca each had an assists and

Fernando Pesantez had 10 saves.

Schedule

Sept. 6, Orange, at Clearman Field, 4 p.m.

Sept. 9, at Perth Amboy, 4 p.m.

Sept. 11, at Barringer, 4 p.m.

Sept. 14, Science Park, 10 a.m.

Sept. 17, at East Orange Campus, 4 p.m.

Sept. 20, West Side, at Clearman Field, 4 p.m.

Sept. 23, at Golda Och, 4 p.m.

Sept. 26, Technology, at Clearman Field, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28, at Nutley, 4 p.m.

Oct. 1, Newark Tech, at Clearman Field, 4 p.m.

Oct. 3, at Shabazz, 4 p.m.

Oct. 7, at Montclair Kimberley Academy, 4 p.m.

Oct. 10, Bloomfield, 7 p.m.

Oct. 14, at West Orange, 4 p.m.

Oct. 18, at Central, 4 p.m.

Oct. 21, North Star Academy, at Clearman Field, 4 p.m.