A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood Thursday, December 11, 1997 Page 13 THE WEEK IN SPORTS 5 RAIDERS SELECTED TO 1ST TEAM ALL-UNION CO. Raiders Named as 12th-Best Boys Soccer Team in Nation David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times By DAVID B. CORBIN selected as The Star Ledger 1997 Union able 367-92-28 record. With all the titles NUSSE, HAMILTON AND COCCARO…Blue Devil seniors Vicky Nusse, Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times County Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year Breznitsky has amassed over the years, Becky Hamilton and Amy Coccaro have been selected to the Girls Soccer First The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High and also was named Player of the Year by he may be forced to add an addition to his Team All-Union County by The Star Ledger. Nusse played as a goalkeeper, David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times School boys’ soccer team has been se- The Courier News. Gillie was named house in order to contain them. Hamilton played as a defensive back and Coccaro played as a forward. NUMBER ONE…Senior Jeff Gillie lected as the 12th-best boys soccer team First Team All-State, All Group, All- was voted as the Number One goal- in the nation by the Umbro/NSCAA Na- Area and All-Union County. keeper in the state and has been se- tional Soccer Poll. The Raiders also This season, Gillie recorded 17 shut- LAURA IDEN SELECTED AS PLAYER OF THE YEAR lected Boys Soccer Player of the Year chomped up five of the eleven positions outs which lifted his total to 39 over his by The Star Ledger. available on the First Team All-Union high school career. While at goal, the County Boys Soccer list. Raiders won two Group 3 State Champi- The Raiders accumulated a mountain onships and amassed a 54-10-8 record. Three Devils, 3 Vikings Make of championships this season and fin- Gillie’s extensive range, explosive leap- ished as the second-ranked boys soccer ing ability and aggressive movement to- team in New Jersey with a 23-2-2 record. ward the ball earned him the respect he The mountain’s foundation was laid when surely deserved from his peers and op- they became the Watchung National Di- posing coaches. All-Union 1st Team Soccer vision Conference Champions for the Bishop as a marking back allowed 11th consecutive year. Next, the knoll little breathing room for opposing strik- Three Westfield High School girls and Stefiuk of the Blue Devils were named to Due to the contributions of the attack- grew to a hill with the addition of the ers throughout the season. In the Union three Union Catholic High School girls the second team and senior back Marga- ing offense, the Vikings finished with a Union County Championship. A little County finals, Bishop ignited after stick- were named to the First Team All-Union ret Kostro was named to the third team. 21-3 record, captured the Union County later, the Raider mountain was formed ing so close to Alcy Riche of Elizabeth County girls soccer list. Iden, a forward, amassed an incredible Title and seized the North Jersey, Section when they captured their fourth consecu- that the friction gave Riche no room to Seniors Vicky Nusse, Amy Coccaro 89 career goals, which became a Union 2, Group 2 Title. tive North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 get off any good shots at goal. Bishop and Becky Hamilton represented the Blue Catholic High School record. This sea- Title and ninth overall; then, the moun- continued, in the Group 3 semifinals, by Devils and senior Laura Iden, sophomore son, Iden had 35 goals and 17 assists. She tain peaked when the Raiders hit the keeping ace striker Miguel Greenberg of Lisette Brandao and freshman Jessica has been selected to the first team three ‘Bricks’ and won the Group 3 State Cham- Emerson in check. Bishop made All- Ballweg represented the Vikings. Both times in a row. pionships for the sixth time. State and was named to the First Team the Blue Devils and the Vikings had six For her amazing scoring ability, elusive The Raiders fielded an entire team of All-Union County. Bishop was also se- girls each selected in all three teams. ball control skills, breakaway speed, team outstanding individuals headed by se- lected as a Co-Most Valuable Player on Nusse was named to the first team as a leadership and teamwork, Iden has been niors Jeff Gillie, Adam Koster, Mike defense. goalie. Nusse recorded 12 shutouts and selected at The Star- Ledger 1997 Union David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times Milberger and Doug Bishop along with Koster, a four-year starter, was key to allowed a Union County-low of 10 goals County Girls Soccer Player of the Year. ADAM KOSTER…Raider midfielder junior Todd Moser. setting up the midfielders with well-posi- for the 16-4-2 Blue Devils. Nusse played Midfielder Brandao was a part of the Adam Koster has been named First Gillie was voted as the Number 1 goal- tioned shots-on-goal. Koster had the abil- brilliantly throughout the season, espe- Vikings’ attack force, scoring 15 goals Team All-State All-Groups, All-Area keeper in the state by the New Jersey ity, alertness and hustle to beat opponents cially against the highly-offensive Union and adding seven assists. Brandao, along and All-Union County. Coaches Association. Gillie also has been to the ball and move it toward the goal. Catholic team and against Roxbury in the with midfielder Ballweg, controlled the Koster also filled a sack-full of credits, Section 2, Group 4 finals. midfield and were able to find their oppo- being named First Team All-State All- Coccaro, a forward, has been well nents’ vulnerable areas. Groups, All-Area and All-Union County. known and respected by opponents Ballweg scored 20 goals and had 17 In addition, Koster shared the MVP for throughout her high school career. assists this season. Ballweg pulled out defense. Coccaro has been a three-time, all-county crucial game heroics, scoring three goals Milberger, a four-year starter, had 12 selection and became the fourth all-time in the county semifinals and netting one goals and 11 assists as a midfielder and leading scorer in Westfield High School goal, and adding three assists in the finals was deadly when given a direct kick. history, recording 52 goals and 50 assists. of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 Milberger glanced a goal off a defender This season, Coccaro nailed 13 goals Championship. from a direct kick in both the Union and contributed 17 assists. Her aggres- Vikings Jill Lasseter and Jessica County finals and against Emerson (Union siveness and hustle kept opposing defend- Broderick were named to the second City) in the semifinals of the Group 3 ers and goalies in a constant state of alert. team and Jen Scholtz was named to the Championships. Hamilton, a four-year starting defender, third team. David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times Milberger earned All-State, All-Area was a major contributor to Westfield’s stingy Union Catholic Head Coach Jim Revel JILL LASSETER…Viking senior Jill and All-Union County top honors. defense, allowing only 26 goals in 88 games. has been named as The Star- Ledger Lasseter has been named to the Girls’ Milberger was the winner of the Johan Hamilton participated in 68 shutouts 1997 Union County Girls Soccer Coach Soccer Second Team All-Union Neeskens Award which is given by throughout her high school career. of the Year. County. Coaches to the player who has contrib- Senior backs Kati Bertelson and Sage uted the most to the soccer program over his career. Milberger played in all 96 of the Raiders’ games during his four years. Devil ‘Icemen’ Freeze Moser led the Raiders in scoring with 15 goals and also recorded 10 assists. He was selected All-State, All-Area and First Team All-Union County. Moser was Clifton Skaters, 5-2 David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times voted team MVP on offense and Co- RAYMOND BAILEY SCHOLASTIC AWARD…Senior Greg Gorski received Captain for next year. By ANDREW CAMBRIA Kashlak was able to score a fourth goal the Raymond Bailey Scholastic Award from Peter Hogaboom, Commander of Senior Chris Cardinal, who terrorized Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times midway through the second period. the Westfield American Legion Post No. 3. The award recognized the football opponents with 10 goals and six assists, At the conclusion of the Westfield Ice Clifton was able to answer with a power- player who has maintained the highest academic standards while still displaying received All-State honors and was se- Hockey season last year, Coach Brian play goal, making the score 5-2. outstanding athletic skills. lected second team All-Union County. LaFontaine said, “We are only going to Defensively, the Blue Devils were Sophomore Eugene Ferrara was named get stronger.” The team proved their coach without senior goalie Brian Garrison and All-State and All-Union County Honor- right, as the Blue Devil icemen skated Captain Brendan Hickey. Sophomore Several Devils Honored able Mention. Ferrara also was voted past Clifton with an impressive 5-2 vic- Chad Puschel filled in for Garrison in net team Co-Captain for next year. tory on December 3 at Warinanco Park. and had an outstanding game for the Blue Senior Ted Sweeney was a killer on The win for Westfield was especially Devils. Puschel saved a total of 25 shots offense with 10 goals and six assists. sweet after last year’s two disappointing on the night At 31st Football Dinner Sweeney was an All-State and All-Union losses to a tough Clifton team. The Blue Devils’ penalty killing proved County Honorable Mention. Junior Senior forward Dan Marer opened up to be strong, as they killed a 5-on-3 By DAVID B. CORBIN Robert G. Petix, Director of Athletics Tafarie Laing always placed himself in the scoring by picking up the first goal of situation late in the second period. Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times and Football Head Coach Ed Tranchina, great position to score and proved it by the game early in the first period. Marer Puschel said, “I thought the defense Many goods words were spoken at the former Director of Athletics/Head Foot- nailing seven goals and adding five as- David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times was assisted by defenseman Brad played really strong to kill off the penalty.” 31st Annual Westfield High School Foot- ball Coach Gary Kehler and a representa- sists. Junior Peter Kobliska was voted as LAURA IDEN…Union Catholic High Schwartz and forward Christian Fagin. The Blue Devils went into the locker ball Dinner on December 4 in the tive from The Westfield Leader, the pre- the Raiders’ Most Improved Player. School senior forward Laura Iden has Junior Ronnie Kashlak showed that he room after two periods of play with a 5- Westfield High School cafeteria, and there sentations of special awards began. Finally, Raider Boys’ Head Soccer been selected First Team All-Union came ready to play this season, by netting 2 lead. In the third period, the Blue Devils were many good reasons to do so. Sev- The first award, the Raymond Barbuti Coach Tom Breznitsky was at the helm County and was named Girls’ Soccer the next three goals for a natural hat trick. continued killing off penalties. The of- eral varsity athletes received special Award, was presented by football official for 23 seasons and compiled a remark- Player of the Year by The Star Ledger. Mike Bird, a newcomer to the Westfield fense worked for seven shots in the third, awards in addition to annual letter and and Westfield resident Steve Toal. This Ice Hockey program, assisted Kashlack but came up empty handed and the score certificate awards. award, sponsored by the Wilson Sporting with his third goal. Kashlack led the remained the same. The Blue Devil varsity made a fantas- Goods Company and administered by the Blue Devil Boys ‘Pac’ Post; offense by out-shooting Clifton in the After the game, Assistant Captain Brad tic turn-around from a 1-8 season in Eastern Association of Intercollegiate first period, to register 10 shots. Schwarz said, “The team looks very prom- 1996, and earned an amazing 6-3 record Football Officials Metropolitan Chapter, The second and third periods of play ising for a successful season Our lineup is this season. As the season matured, so acknowledged student athletes for their 4-1 Cross Country Record were defensive tests for Westfield. deeper this year.” did the momentum and confidence of outstanding courage, determination and the Blue Devils. On November 1, the perseverance in the face of adversity. Jun- The Westfield High School boys’ cross in the state sectionals. Blue Devils captured the 500th win in ior Matt Krug, who was injured early in country team raced its way to a 4-1 record The Blue Devils defeated Rahway, Westfield High School history by cag- the season, was the recipient of the award. this season, and captured another 17-48; Shabazz, 15-50; Union Catho- ing the Cougars from Cranford High The next special award, the Watchung Conference Championship. lic, 15-49, and Scotch Plains-Fanwood, School, 34-0. The Blue Devils had a Raymond Bailey Scholastic Award, The varsity boys also placed third in the 21-36. The only loss was a narrow 28- storybook ending to their season on was presented to senior Greg Gorski Union County Tournament and second 27 squeaker to Cranford. Thanksgiving Day, crushing 13th- by Peter Hogaboom, Commander of Kaslusky tore up the cross country ranked Plainfield High School, 22-7. American Legion Post No. 3 of paths by placing first in the Union After dinner and brief speeches from Westfield. This award recognized the County Tournament and in the state Westfield High School Principal Dr. CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 sectionals. Kaslusky took second at the Watchung Conference Meet and at the Shore Coaches Invitational. Kaslusky continued his success by placing third in the State Group 4 Championships and by grabbing ninth at the Meet of Champions. At Warinanco Park in Elizabeth, Kaslusky turned in a personal-best time 15:59, which was one second lower than 1997 Westfield High School graduate Matt Elmuccio’s time recorded last year on the same course. Erratum In the December 4 issue article about four Blue Devil boys being selected to BREAKING OUT…Forwards Christian Fagin, No. 24, and Danny Marer, No. the first-team All-Union County Soc- 16, break out from their zone in Westfield’s 5-2 win over Clifton December 3 at cer list, according to the Westfield High Warinanco Park in Elizabeth. Marer scored the opening goal. School coaches end-of-season report, junior Mike Idland’s name was listed as being selected to the second team WALTON HEATH David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times and as an honorable mention. DAVE CITRIN…Senior cross coun- According to the report, Idland was Tailors & Custom Shirt Makers try runner Dave Citrin has been one of named to the second team and junior the Blue Devils’ team captains this year Mike Stotler was named as an honor- David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SETTING FOOTBALL HISTORY STRAIGHT…Gary Kehler, former and has contributed to their success. able mention. Westfield High School Director of Athletics and Football Head Coach reviews the 100 Years of Blue Devil Football, then dispels the rumors that he was the original coach. The 31st Annual Dinner took place on December 4 in the Holiday Gift Certificates Westfield High School cafeteria. Available SOCCER SKILLS By Appointment (908) 654-5414 AND DRILLS INC. Holiday Specials Westfield, New Jersey Selected T-Shirts & Shorts ELECTRICIAN FILA Buy-One - Get-One Apparel Because A Left Foot Is 35%OFF 1/2 PRICE A Terrible Thing To Waste S. SwensonEst. 1928& Sons, Inc. A YEAR ROUND SOCCER TUTORING SCHOOL FOR ALL AGES, WE SPECIALIZE IN THE DEVELOPMENT Adidas Outerwear at Reduced Prices Still Time Before Christmas To Make Those Last OF BALL CONTROL SKILLS. Sale Ends 12/31/97 NOW TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR OLYMPIA PLAZA(opposite Minute Upgrades and Repairs FALL & WINTER CLASSES • NIKE Rt. 22 East Bowcraft Amusement) • ADIDAS (908) 753-8240 • DIADORA 908-654-1112 • FILA 908-276-9000 Tom Turnbull, Dir. 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