By Brian Deakyne and Richard Greco | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Hot takes on the pitch
The first month of the season is over and things are starting to heat up. The past week as wild as wild as the four before and there is plenty to report on. From more milestones being accomplished to chaos in the county tournaments, the last seven days have yielded plenty of big news. NJ.com took a look at some red-hot teams as well as big-time topics in boys soccer.
Statistics and records are based on games reported to njschoolsports.com through Wednesday, Oct. 5
Matt Smith | For NJ Advance Media
Wayne Hills coach Nelson Graham wins 400th game
Nelson Graham picked up his 400th win when Wayne Hills defeated West Milford, 5-0, on Oct. 3. Wayne Hills is the seventh seed in the Passaic County Tournament and will face 10th-seeded Wayne Valley on Oct. 7. Wayne Hills won the Passaic County Tournament last season.
READ: Game story from Wayne Hills' PCT championship in 2016
Ryan Flaherty becomes Barnegat's all-time leading scorer
Flaherty found the back of the net five times to lead Barnegat over Lakewood, 7-0, on Sept. 29. The five-goal performance allowed him to become the school’s all-time leading scorer with 38 career goals.
Courtesy of Haddonfield Soccer
Haddonfield reaches program milestone
When Haddonfield defeated Lindenwold 1-0 on Wednesday, it was more than just a normal victory. The win allowed Haddonfield to improve to 11-0-1 on the season and was the program's 700th victory. Since 1973, Haddonfield has a record of 700-184-67. Haddonfield has won at least 10 games in each of the last 10 seasons.
.jpg?auth=c20c8ec6f2b1692e462cc299a49a0a45c804bb76fbd71797b3f6aa57d793e7df&width=1280&quality=90)
Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
SHP's Liam Bertrand overcomes scary injury
In Seton Hall Prep's season-opening win over Summit, goalkeeper Liam Bertrand charged out of his box to head a ball away from an attacking player. As Bertrand headed the ball out of bounds, the attacking player booted him in the face. The junior keeper needed 26 stitches and missed 23 days of action. He returned Monday and made six saves to shutout Columbia in a win. He added another shutout in a 2-0 win over Millburn on Wednesday.
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Middletown South and Manasquan battle to 5-5 tie
In a wacky, wild game, Middletown South and Manasquan combined to score 10 goals, but nobody walked away with a victory. The two sides draw 5-5 on Oct. 2. Ten different players scored in the game. For Middletown South Justin Gould, Connell MacLellan, Danny Minze (pictured above), Jonathan Santos and Mike Zito scored. For Manasquan Nick Bilotti, Chris Capone, Matt Drake, Dulio Guererro and Tommy Johnson scored.
Amanda Brown | For NJ Advance Media
It's Raider time at Scotch Plains
After opening the season 1-6 - with six 1-0 losses - Scotch Plains-Fanwood seems to have finally found its form. As of Wednesday evening, the Raiders have won four straight games outscoring opponents, 23-2, in the process.
MORE: 2017 County Tournament Brackets
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Red-hot Howell
After starting the season 0-2-1, Howell has rattled off seven straight victories. The Rebels are outscoring opponents 15-4 during the streak and have a huge chance to make a statement on Tuesday when they take on Christian Brothers.
Larry Murphy | For the Times of Trenton
Princeton is the CVC's best
Princeton asserted its dominance atop the Colonial Valley Conference on Wednesday when it defeated a very good West Windsor-Plainsboro North team, 4-0. It is 8-0-1 against CVC opponents and outscoring them 25-4.
ALSO: Which NCAA D1 men's soccer programs have the most N.J. natives
Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media
Holmdel is firing on all cylinders
Holmdel is 10-0 and has absolutely been crushing opponents this season. The Hornets are outscoring opponents, 54-6, and have scored five or more goals seven times this year.
NJ Advance Media file photos
GMC Red Division race heats up
The GMC's Red Division is wide open right now. At 6-3-1, South Brunswick is a formidable foe that is outscoring opponents 28-12. Monroe is always a tough opponent and since its season opening loss to South Brunswick, the Falcons have won seven games and picked up two ties. Don't judge East Brunswick by its 6-5 record, this team is legit and could definitely turn some heads down the line. Old Bridge has hit its stride in the midseason with three straight wins over Piscataway, Perth Amboy and J.P. Stevens. St. Joe's just fell to Monroe, 1-0, but has one of the most dangerous offenses in the county that can light up the scoreboard.
READ: NJ.com Top 20 for Thursday, Oct. 5
David Gard | For NJ Advance Media
Bishop Eustace continues rolling
Since falling to Seneca on Sept. 12, Bishop Eustace has won nine straight games. During the streak it knocked off Cherokee, Shawnee, Lenape and redeemed its loss to Seneca with a 3-0 victory on Oct. 4. Eustace is outscoring opponents 46-8 this season.
Courtesy of Kym Sarkos
Mainland makes a statement
Mainland has won six straight games, but its most impressive victory during the stretch came on Wednesday when it took down St. Augustine, 3-0, behind goals from Jack Sarkos, Conner Juckett and Sam Watt. It is outscoring opponents 39-6 this season.
WATCH: Top 10 plays from Week 4
Jefferson gives back to the community
Over the weekend, the Jefferson boys soccer team participated in the 19th Annual Wrobo Run - 5K. Proceeds from the race benefited the Jefferson Township Teen Scene and is run by the Junior Woman's Club of Jefferson. Proceeds also went to the Jefferson Township HS Scholarship.
Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
St. Peter's Prep is getting it done
It may have taken some time to gel, but St. Peter's Prep seems to be rocking and rolling of late. The Marauders rattled off six straight wins, outscoring opponents 28-4 in the process. On Wednesday it made a major statement when it tied undefeated Kearny, 1-1.
READ: 48 boys soccer players getting the job done in 2017
COUNTY TOURNAMENT UPSETS
Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament - First Round
Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
16-Phillipsburg 3, 13-Delaware Valley 0
Matt Bilas, Vincenzo Russo, and Alain Gonda each scored for 16th-seeded Phillipsburg in a 3-0 win over 13th-seeded Delaware Valley on Oct. 2. Cole Mitchell, Stefano Varela-Seri, and Saul Sandoval each had an assist for Phillipsburg. Evert Perez and Tyler Carapezzi each made two saves for Phillipsburg.
Phillipsburg will travel to face fourth-seeded Sussex Tech in the second round on Saturday.
17-Belvidere 2, 12-North Warren 0
Matthew Gallagher did all of the scoring for 17th-seeded Belvedere in its 2-0 upset victory over 12th-seeded North Warren on Oct. 2. Tim Toth and Kevin Stahl each recorded an assist, whileDarren Siegmeister made four saves.
Belvidere will take on fifth-seeded Warren Hills in the second round on Saturday.
Morris County Tournament - First Round
20-Roxbury 4, 4-Morris Catholic 2
Omar Mougharbel scored two goals as 20th-seeded Roxbury defeated fourth-seeded Morris Catholic, 4-2, on Oct. 1. Doddi Pincay and T.J. McMullin also scored with Pincay and Ryan Sclar both tallying an assist. Julian Randall made 14 saves in the victory.
Roxbury will now face fifth-seeded Dover, a 5-1 winner over Parsippany, in the quarterfinal round on Sunday.
Courtesy of the JTHS Boys Soccer Parents Association
11-Jefferson 1, 6-Mountain Lakes 0
Martin Kuras scored the lone goal of the game in the first half to lead 11th-seeded Jefferson to a 1-0 victory over sixth-seeded Mountain Lakes on Oct. 1. Zackary Hirschman finished with the lone assist for Jefferson as Jacob Wacker had seven saves in the shutout.
Jefferson will play third-seeded Morris Knolls, a 5-1 winner over 19th-seeded Madison, in the quarterfinal round on Sunday.
ALSO: A look at the remaining undefeated boys soccer teams
Passaic County Tournament - Preliminary Round
14-Paterson Eastside 3, 11-Paterson Kennedy 1
Bryan Geovany Alvarado scored two goals and had two assists for 14th-seeded Paterson Eastside in its 3-1 upset victory over 11th-seeded Paterson Kennedy in the preliminary round on Sept. 29.
Daniel Alvarado also scored for Paterson Eastside, which will take on sixth-seeded Passaic Tech on Oct. 7.
More boys soccer news on NJ.com
Brian Deakyne may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Richard Greco may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @RichardGrecoHS . Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Ad Choices