SPORTS REPORT 15
Soccer School By Ted Gilbreath, Director of Athletics
While there was a tremendous amount of positive energy around all of the fall teams as play began last August, there seemed to be some extra buzz around Newark Academy’s soccer programs both on campus and as far away as Japan.
B
oth the boys’ and girls’ teams put experienced groups determined to accomplish big things in the Super Essex Conference and the State Prep tournament – onto Newark Academy’s brand new turf field (named for recently retired faculty member and coach, Jeff Kacur). They did so with the shining example of United States forward Maya Hayes’ FIFA Under Twenty Women’s World Cup victory motivating them to pursue championships of their own. Seniors Nick Williams and Charlie Bushnell highlighted a senior-laden cast that was identified by the Star Ledger as a contender for the Prep B State Championship. The boys finished 11-9-1 last season and fell in the state semifinals to Hawthorne Christian. This season, Coach James Morris’ squad hung their hopes on a prolific offense that included Williams, Bushnell and senior Greg Ruda. When that offense let down, the Minutemen relied on goalie Matt Cowen and defenders Matt Press and Josh and Seth Wilensky. As of press time, the boys were on the verge of both Prep and State championship glory, having knocked off Princeton Day School, and Hudson Catholic and avenged their 2011 loss to Hawthorne Christian to advance to the Prep Semifinals and the Non-Public North Sectional State Championship game.
Coach Jay Torson’s girls’ team returned all but one player from a team that captured the 2011 S.E.C. Liberty Division crown. After their annual pre-season trek to New Hampshire, “N.A.G.S.” (Newark Academy Girls’ Soccer – for the uninitiated) returned to campus, focused and ready to defend their crown. The girls also had the good fortune of being senior heavy, and hoped that the talented foot of Ashlyn
Heller ’13 and the defense of Jordyn Kronick ’13 and Kendra Damodaran ’13 would allow them to repeat as division champs and add a prep crown to their trophy case. The girls advanced in both tournaments, falling in the semifinals of the state tournament to a talented Villa Walsh side, and to arch rival MKA in the Prep State Championship game. Across the Pacific, a former Minuteman was adding to her already glittering collection of accolades as Maya Hayes, a junior at Penn State, helped the United States to its third Under-Twenty World Cup Title. The United States defeated Germany 1-0 on September 8 and Hayes was the team’s leading scorer. Hayes returns to a Penn State team that is ranked 8th in the nation and eyeing a Big Ten title. As a sophomore a year ago, Hayes, an All-American, led the nation in goals, set a PSU and Big Ten record for points and was a finalist for the Hermann Award, given annually to the nation’s top male and female soccer players. Aside from Hayes, Newark Academy alums hit the field on numerous collegiate teams and several of the current seniors are poised to join them. With the 2012 teams thriving, a state-of-theart facility that is being described as one of the RED & BLACK ON THE ATTACK! finest soccer fields in the county, and alumni shining Newark Academy’s successful fall athletic in the collegiate ranks, season ended with some exciting victories! soccer is clearly one of the signature programs Winter team practices have now begun and at Newark Academy. NA players are working hard to reach their full potential during the upcoming season. Get the full rundown of current scores and news at www.newarka.edu/athletics.