Seton Hall Prep soccer team ‘dream to coach’ in state title year

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Seton Hall Prep soccer team completed an outstanding season with a 22-1-1 season.

The Pirates tied a school record with 22 wins, and set new school records of 20 shutouts and six fewest goals allowed.

They captured their sixth Essex County Tournament, seventh Super Essex Conference- American Division title, seventh Non-Public “A” North State title and third Non-Public “A” State title.

SHP head coach Marty Berman just completed his 34th season as the head coach and his current record stands at 486-189-62. Recently, he commented on the season.

“I couldn’t be happier for this soccer team,” he said. “I really hoped they would win the state title because they were a dream to coach and they deserved to be champions. They have superior skill, but they are also a group of kids who do everything the right way. They play a beautiful brand of soccer, but can also play with grit and determination. They practice hard each day and are also exemplary students who excel in the classroom.

“I love the way they represent Seton Hall Prep, on and off the field,” continued Berman, “and I’m so glad they had the opportunity to play in front of our huge Pirate Nation crowd so often and sing the alma mater with them after those games. They certainly added to the legacy of Seton Hall Prep soccer.”

Senior co-captain Aidan Dunphy, who committed to Johns Hopkins, said, “We had a plan in the beginning of the year to go out and win everything like we have every year, but this year it was different because we all came together and put the team first no matter what and we followed the plan to its completion.”

Seba Niehenke, the other senior co-captain, who committed to Bates College, Maine, added, “The season was what we wanted it to be and expected it to be based on the talent we had. We made a statement by winning the conference, county and state titles doing  it all by conceding only six goals. This season was truly outstanding.”

Senior Shane Farrell, who has committed to Middlebury College, Vt., said, “It was such a great season. The main goal was to win the conference, county and state titles. We accomplished that by working well together. The subs pushed us in every practice and prepared us for each game, especially the biggest games of the season.”

The following SHP players received honors:

All SEC-American Division (selected by coaches):

First Team – Aidan Dunphy, Jason Pereira, Lucas Ross and Shane Farrell

Second Team – Seba Niehenke, Nicolas Sprague, Alex Treska and Tomas Hut.

Honorable Mention – Chris Angermund, Sal Vito and Will Monroy.

All-Essex County (selected by coaches):

First Team – Dunphy, Pereira, Ross and Hut.

Second Team – Farrell and Niehenke.

Third  Team – Angermund and Sprague.

Honorable Mention – Treska, Vito and Monroy.

The Pirates are ranked in the following polls:

Topdrawersoccer.com – No. 14 in Fab 50/National; No. 4 in East Region; No. 3 in New Jersey.

USA Today/United Soccer Coaches: Also receiving votes in  Super 25/National; No. 5 in Region III.

Star-Ledger: No. 2 in New Jersey, No. 1 in Non-Public Schools, No. 1 in Super Essex Conference.

SHP season leaders:

Goal scorers: Ross-25, Dunphy – 8, Farrell – 4, David  Schuster – 4.

Assists:  Dunphy – 15, Farrell, Vito, Nick Palangio, 6 apiece.