WEST ORANGE, NJ (updated Tuesday Oct. 11, 1:28 p.m.) – The West Orange High School boys’ varsity soccer team claimed two more victories last week, including its biggest on the season so far, to improve to a 6-1-2 record.
“The team beat Montclair on Thursday (Oct. 6), 3-0, for our biggest win of the year,” said head coach Doug Nevins, noting Andrew DiPalma scored the first goal of the match off an assist from Diego Pedrido.
Leading 1-0, Pancho Pozzoli scored the second on an assist from Ricardo Carias while Kevin Zeligson finished the scoring off an assist from Pedrido.
In net, Paulie Schuler had five saves to earn the shutout.
One match later, WOHS continued that momentum on Saturday, Oct. 8, with a 7-2 win against Belleville which saw seven players score as Pozzoli, Neil McGarrel, Manny DePierola, Bryce Millington, DiPalma, Zeligson, and Tony Perreira all scored. Millington, Pozzoli, Dillon Reitberger, Carias, Jonathan Banks and DePierola recorded assists.
In goal, Nevins said Sam Banks had four saves to earn his first career varsity win.
In the previous week, the Mountaineers tied Millburn 1-1 and beat Bloomfield 4-1.
“The defense has been great behind Russel Hoffer, Dillon Reitberger, Maurice Williams, Andrei Rosu, as well as Malik St Felix, Alex Edelstein and Jonathan Banks,” said the coach. “Paulie Schuler has been very good in goal as well. In addition, the midfield of Bryce Millington, Pancho Pozzoli and Ricardo Carias has been wonderful as well as Brent Llwellyn and Josh Figueroa while at forward Neil McGarrel, Manny DePierola, Kenneth Vaquiz, Kevin Zeligson, Brian Tello, and Andrew DiPalma have all been very dangerous.”
Notably, in the Millburn game Nevins said Millington scored off a corner kick taken by Pozzoli and in the Bloomfield game, McGarrel scored twice with DePierola and Vaquiz scoring a goal apiece.
Looking ahead, the team will look to improve on its winning record today, Oct. 13, at Memorial. On Saturday, Oct. 15, Nevins’ group will travel to play at Livingston at 2 p.m.
The Mountaineers are ranked No. 10 in the state Top 20, No. 3 in the state Public Group 4, and No. 3 in the Super Essex Conference by nj.com.
WOHS also is seeded No. 3 in this year’s Essex County Tournament. Town neighbor Seton Hall Prep, which is the defending champion, is the No. 1 seed.
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