WEST ORANGE – The West Orange High School boys’ varsity soccer team last season enjoyed one of its best season ever. The Mountaineers won the state North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 tournament championship and advanced to the state Group 4 final where they lost to defending champion Washington Township, 1-0, to finish with a sensational 21-2 record.
With a strong returning group, the Mountaineers are determined to make another solid run at the state championship again this season.
The Mountaineers, under 17th-year head coach Doug Nevins, will face neighboring rival Seton Hall Prep in their season opener on Saturday, Sept. 10, at Millburn High School at 5 p.m.
WOHS will be led by returning senior Diego Pedrido, one of the state’s top goalkeepers. Pedrido also can play a forward spot. Paulie Schuler will be the goalie when Pedrido plays a forward position.
The defense will be led by returnees Andrei Rosu (center back), Russell Hoffer (left back) and Dillon Reitberger (right back). The returning midfielders are Christian “Pancho” Pozzolli, Bryce Millington and Ricardo Carias. The key forwards are returnees Andrew DiPalma and Neil McGarrel, along with Kevin Zeligson and Manny DePierola. In addition, WOHS will be helped by St. Benedict’s Prep transfers Brent Llewellyn, a midfielder, and center back Maurice Williams.
The following is the rest of the WOHS schedule:
Sept. 13, East Side, 4 p.m.
Sept. 15, at Verona, 4 p.m.
Sept. 17, Irvington, 10 a.m.
Sept. 20, at West Essex, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 22, Newark Academy, 4 p.m.
Sept. 27, Millburn, 4 p.m.
Sept. 29, at Bloomfield, 4 p.m.
Oct. 4, at Nutley, 4 p.m.
Oct. 6, Montclair, 4 p.m.
Oct. 8, at Belleville, 10 a.m.
Oct. 11, at Livingston, 4 p.m.
Oct. 13, at Memorial, 7 p.m.
Oct. 15, Mendham, 1 p.m.
Oct. 20, at Newark Tech, 4 p.m.
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