Seton Hall Prep senior Joe Kearns (No. 6) leaps to head the ball against a Delbarton player in the Non-Public “A” North State final on Nov. 8 at Millburn High School. The game was tied 2-2 after two overtimes, forcing a penalty-kick shootout that Delbarton won, 4-3, to end the Pirates’ 18-2-5 season.
WEST ORANGE, NJ – The Seton Hall Prep varsity soccer team had another great season.
The Pirates finished with an 18-2-5 record while finishing second in the Super Essex Conference-American Division and were runner-up in both the Essex County Tournament and the Non-Public “A” North State Tournament.
During the season they posted 14 clean sheets, were unbeaten in 12 matches and only allowed 17 goals in 25 matches. Their schedule was one of the best in the state as they competed in the Super Essex Conference-American Division and played top non-division teams and a top prep team.
Some of their top players were sophomore forward Lucas Ross (19 goals, 16 assists), junior midfielder Aidan Dunphy (11 goals, 15 assists), senior forward Skyler Storms (9 goals, 12 assists), senior forward Nate Dean (5 goals, 3 assists), senior midfielder Brian Zimmermann (4 goals, 12 assists), junior forward William Monroy (3 goals, 4 assists) senior defense Joe Kearns (8 assists), and senior midfielder Rafael de la Torre (3 goals, 3 assists).
Head coach Marty Berman completed his 33rd year as the Seton Hall Prep head coach with a current record of 464-188-61. Recently, he commented about the season. “This was an incredibly rewarding season. We were led by three superb underclassmen, but it was our seniors who made the difference. Our seniors – some of whom were not even expected to start or play much – played much greater than my expectations or hopes and contributed so much, game in and game out, making our 18-2-5 season possible. The penalty-kick shootout losses in the ECT final and the Non-Public “A” North final were devastating, but those results couldn’t diminish the incredible effort the kids gave in those matches and how well we played all year. This season was an overwhelming success.”
Kearns said, “It was a successful season. We had 18 wins along with reaching the Essex County final and the Non-Public ‘A’ North final. Going to penalty kicks is not ideal but we are proud of what we accomplished. Defeating Millburn in the county semis was great after losing to them in the regular season. We took a great Delbarton team to penalty kicks and scoring two goals on their defense was what we wanted to do because it was the most goals they had given up in a match all season to that point.”
Zimmermann added, “We had a real good season overall. The ending was not what we expected. Losing in penalty kicks is always tough. We played a lot better as the season progressed. As the last Zimmermann to graduate the Prep, it is sad because I have been around the school since 2008 and it has been a real family atmosphere. It was real exciting for me to follow my father Buddy ‘75, and brothers RIP Billy ‘10, and Sean ‘16.”
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