The Spotswood High School boys’ soccer team fashioned a solid 2017 season.
The Chargers posted an 11-8 record and advanced to the second round in the Central Jersey, Group 2 state sectional tournament a season ago.
But the Chargers lost their leading scorer, Andrew Orros (26 goals), and three starting defenders to graduation.
But coach Spotswood Jeff Marvinny will still welcome back plenty of talented players for 2018. Seven regular starters have returned, while three other players who started at least one game last year will join them in the lineup.
It’s a strong group, despite the key losses.
Spotswood will showcase its squad when the Chargers open the season at Hamilton High School West on Sept. 4.
“The past two years, we won a game or two in states for the first time in school history. Hopefully we can do that again,” Marvinny said. “We’ve been close in the second round game. It took awhile to get over the hump of winning the first game. Now hopefully we can win another one or two.”
Marvinny certainly has enough talent to lead his team deep into the state playoffs.
Goalkeeper Andrew Bishara is a third-year starter expected to take a big step up this fall. The junior was named a captain during the preseason.
“He’s playing very well in the preseason. He’s very good and is taking more control of the backline,” Marvinny said. “His hands are tremendous. He has improved at getting low quickly. He’s good off his line and very strong in the air. As a captain, he’s also just a much more commanding presence.”
Spotswood may have lost its leading scorer, but it returns two All-Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division forwards in Chris Moran and Yanni Hatzistefanif. The duo combined for 22 goals last year. Moran scored 13 and Hatzistefanif connected on nine.
The Chargers also return three starting midfielders in Luke Tharney, Liam Barlow and Jordan Church.
“Their second year playing as a group will be really helpful,” Marvinny said. “None of them had a ton of stats. They are just very solid in the middle.”
Behind the midfield, the Chargers do not have to replace their entire defensive unit. They return four players who saw time in Marvinny’s five defensive back set last year.
Sean Duffy and Skylar Malone will move from outside back to center back, filling two of the three center back spots. Brian Lumsden and Edozie Okafor will man the outside back positions.
Spotswood’s experience will help the team navigate a GMC Blue Division gauntlet in 2018.
The GMC expanded from four divisions to five, which resulted in Spotswood making the move up into a group with such schools as Carteret High School, Metuchen High School and South River High School.
“Hopefully we can compete in the division this year,” Marvinny said. “It’s tough to say county-wide. Hopefully we can win a game or two in the county tournament, too.”
