Seton Hall Prep junior Nick Kriak makes a move in the 1-0 loss to Christian Brothers Academy during the NJSIAA Non-Public “A” championship game at Kean University in Union. Kriak, a West Orange resident, was named to the First Team on the All-Super Essex Conference-American Division. Photo by Rich Morris/courtesy of SHP
WEST ORANGE, NJ (updated Tuesday Nov. 29, 9:25 a.m.) – The Seton Hall Prep varsity soccer team fashioned a magnificent season. The Pirates, under 31st-year head coach Marty Berman, were consistently ranked in the state, region and country as they finished with a phenomenal 19-3 record.
After clinching the Super Essex Conference-American Division title, the top-seeded Pirates finished runner-up in the Essex County Tournament after losing to second-seeded Newark East Side, 4-0, in the final on Oct. 30, coming up short in their bid for a second straight ECT title. But the Pirates regrouped for the postseason. SHP, seeded second, downed fourth-seeded Delbarton in the NJSIAA Non-Public North “A” tournament championship game, winning it in a penalty-kick shootout, 5-3, after the game was tied 2-2 in regulation and both overtimes at Passaic County Institute of Technology in Wayne on Nov. 10.
That advanced the Pirates to the ultimate game – the NJSIAA Non-Public “A” final – held at Kean University in Union on Nov. 13 – against Christian Brothers Academy. The Pirates battled hard, but CBA won, 1-0, on a second-half goal.
The Pirates boasted seven players who earned All-SEC-American Division honors. Senior forward Mason Toye, senior forward Ryan Vazquez and junior midfielder Nick Kriak made First Team; junior defenseman Max Englebrechtsen and senior defenseman Michael Georgiou made Second Team; and senior midfielder Brian Tevlin and junior midfielder Michael Pavick made Honorable Mention.
In addition, Toye, Vazquez, and Kriak made First Team; Engelbrechtsen and Tevlin made Second Team; Pavick and Georgiou made Third Team; and senior defensemen James Reardon and Jonathan Santos; and senior midfielder Adam Ned made Honorable Mention on the Coaches All-Essex County.
Toye, who will continue his soccer career at Indiana University, had 21 goals and 12 assists, both team highs. Vazquez notched 12 goals and 10 assists; and Kriak, a West Orange resident, had one goal and seven assists.
Engelbrechtsen had two assists; Georgiou had one assist; Tevlin posted seven goals and six assists; Pavick recorded six goals and five assists; Reardon had five assists; Ned had one goal and seven assists; this season.
Other key contributors for the Pirates were sophomore midfielder Joe Kearns (four assists); sophomore forward Skyler Storms (four goals); junior midfielder Frank DeLuca (two goals and two assists); and junior forward Joe Cubero (one goal and four assists).
The SHP goalies were sophomore Liam Bertrand (17 goals allowed in 24 games, 0.74 goals-allowed average); junior Gabe Ferreira (3 goals allowed in 9 games, 2.12 GAA); and junior Casey Thompson (one goal allowed in three games, 1.67 GAA).
Berman, a West Orange resident, has a 425-183-55 record in his 31 seasons at the SHP helm.
The Pirates outscored their opponents, 58-21, this season.
The Pirates were ranked in these final polls: Topdrawersoccer.com: New Jersey: No. 8. East Region: No. 12. National: No. 50. USA Today/NSCAA: Region III: No. 11. News-12 Varsity: New Jersey: No. 4. Tri-State: No. 9. NJ.Com-Star-Ledger: New Jersey: No. 7. Non-Public: No. 2. Essex County: No. 1.
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