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Ethan Pidgeon, right, shown in action last fall against Seton Hall Prep, is one of the captains for the Cougars.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The Columbia High School boys’ soccer team, under head coach Josh Russotto, is preparing for the fall season by adding new coaching staff and playing together on a weekly basis.
The captains have led practice sessions at Underhill Field in South Orange. The captains are goalkeeper Sam Maidenberg, center midfielder Julian Lyons, center back Frederik Hoffman and center back Ethan Pidgeon.
The captains are returning starters from the 2017 squad. Maidenberg was a First Team Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division selection in 2017 and made North II All-State Second Team.
The team also participates in the Livingston High School Summer League, 9v9. The league features small-sided games versus future fall opponents such as West Essex, Verona, and Livingston.
The varsity team is pleased to add assistant coach Ryan Muirhead, who is a Verona alumnus. The new JV coach is Andrew Helfrich, while the new freshman coach is Anthony Spina.
Columbia was promoted to the SEC-American Division for 2018. The SEC-American Division opponents are Seton Hall Prep West Orange, Montclair, Millburn, Newark East Side, and Livingston. The SEC-American is the highest division in the conference.
“Every game will be a clash of strong teams with prideful players,” Russotto said.
The Cougars are coming off a successful 10-7-1 season last fall.