West Orange HS boys’ soccer team seeks another stellar campaign

Brent Llwellyn heds the ball during the ECT quarterfinals against Millburn last season.

WEST ORANGE, NJ (updated Monday Sept. 11, 5:11 p.m.) –

The West Orange High School boys’ varsity soccer team has been considered among the best in the county and state in Doug Nevins’ storied tenure as head coach.

Nevins, now entering his 18th year at the Mountaineers helm, again has a strong team that will contend for Super Essex Conference-American Division, Essex County Tournament, NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament and NJSIAA Group 4 state championships.

The Mountaineers, who finished as NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament finalist with a 15-2-3 record last fall, boast a plethora of returning players.

WOHS played West Essex to a 1-1 tie in the season opener Friday, Sept. 8.

Senior Paulie Schuler is a returning starting goalie who allowed just six goals in 18 games last season. “He is an excellent goalie that is being recruited by small Division 1 and very good Division 3 (colleges),” said Nevins.

Senior center back Maurice Williams is a returning starter who anchored the defense last year. He is also being recruited by Division 1 colleges, according to Nevins.

Another returning starter is senior center midfielder Brent Llwellyn. One of the most creative attacking players on the team, Llwellyn is considering small Division 1 and very good Division schools as well.

Center midfielders Josh Figueroa and Kenneth Vaquiz were key reserves last year and are important starters this year. “They are skilled smart and tough,” said Nevins of the two players.

The five aforementioned players serve as team captains.

Other important defenders are seniors Marc Younker and Santi DaSilva; junior Musie Weldeghergis, and sophomore Yasin Aly.

The other key midfielders are juniors Facundo Gomez, Brian Merlos, Tyreke Wray, Zach Dong, and Roodlensky Charles

The forwards are senior Bijan Tirani; juniors Wes Winds Rideau, Manny DePierola, and Edgar Moreno, and sophomore Nalima Fisher.

Nevins noted that speed and athleticism are the team’s strengths.

“At a lot of positions, we have very fast players,” Nevins said. “Our center mids are skilled and smart. The key will be how quickly the team adjusts as there are a lot of players new to varsity.

“The season goals as always are to compete for the Super Essex Conference-American title, advance to the ECT (Essex County Tournament) Finals, and compete for the North 1, Group 4 state title as well,” Nevins added. “Again if the inexperienced guys adjust to the varsity level quickly, these goals are realistic. We have a lot of terrific players; they just need more reps at the varsity level.”

The Mountaineers have appeared in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament championship game in three of the past four seasons, winning it in 2013 and 2015 and falling short last season. In 2013, the Mountaineers went on to win the NJSIAA Group 4 state championship.

Schedule

Fri., Sept. 8, at West Essex, 4 p.m.

Mon., Sept. 11, Montclair, 4 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 13, Columbia, 4 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 16, Memorial, noon

Mon., Sept. 18, at Millburn, 7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 23, East Side, 11 a.m.

Mon., Sept. 25, at Nutley, 4 p.m.

Wed., Sept. 27, at Montclair Kimberley Academy, 4 p.m.

Thurs. Sept. 28, Irvington, 4 p.m. (Fan Fest)

Mon. Oct. 2, East Orange Campus, 4 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 4, Livingston, 4 p.m.

Mon. Oct. 9, Seton Hall Prep, 4 p.m.

Wed. Oct. 11, at Caldwell, 4 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 14, Belleville, 10 a.m.

Mon. Oct. 16, at North Plainfield, 4 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 21, Memorial, 11 a.m.

Fri. Oct. 27, Princeton, 7 p.m.

Since 2000 (17 seasons), Nevins has amassed an illustrious 284-71-19 record (.760 winning percentage). His teams have accomplished the following:

6 ECT finals appearances that includes 2 titles (2003 co-champs with Montclair, 2006) and 4 runner-ups (2002, 2004, 2010, 2012).
10 NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament championship appearances that includes 6 titles (2003, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2013, 2015) and 4 runner-up finishes (2004, 2007, 2012, 2016).
3 NJSIAA Group 4 state championship games – 2 titles (2006 and 2013) and 1 runner-up finish (2015).

In addition, Nevins’ teams won five conference championships (four in the now-defunct Northern Hills Conference and one in SEC-American Division).

Here is a year-by-year look at Nevins’ teams:

2000: 15-4-2 record

2001: 15-6

2002: 18-2-1, ECT runner-up

2003: 22-2-2, ECT co-champs with Seton Hall, Section champs

2004: 20-3, ECT runner-up, Section runner-up

2005: 21-1-1, Section champs

2006: 24-1, ECT champs, Section champs, Group 4 state champs

2007: 12-9-2, Section runner-up

2008: 13-7

2009: 13-5-1