Bombers looking for a repeat performance
Experience should help Sayreville defend its GMC White crown
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
The Sayreville High School boys soccer team is off to a 1-1 start as it looks to defend its Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division title.

Coach Nick Cifelli's Bombers opened the year with a 4-2 loss to division rival Monroe, as Kene Eze, who scored 16 goals last season, posted both markers for the Bombers. Sayreville rebounded to down Perth Amboy, 3-1, to even its record as Eze scored twice more and Luis Jiminez added another goal.

The coach was generally pleased with his team's play in the Perth Amboy game, but he noted that he wants to cut down on goals against.

"Five goals against in two games is too many," Cifelli said. "But we've moved some players around and we have a few new guys, so I think it's going to take a couple of games to get things working right."

The Bombers are strong in the middle, Cifelli said, with junior Tinashe Muwalo leading a solid group. Sean Mosser returns as the stopper, and Michael Weber is back at sweeper. P.J. Gary, Michael Batko, junior Justin Sullivan, sophomore Joe Janela and freshman Kyle Santos round out the midfielders. Gary was usually the first player off the bench for Sayreville as a junior.

Up front, the Bombers will again rely on Eze to lead the attack, but Sayreville is without the graduated Lamin Sidibeh and Colly Muwalo, who scored nine and eight goals, respectively.

Matt Welna, who tallied eight goals and four assists a year ago, and Matt Colgan, who was promoted to the varsity late last season and scored three goals, should help pick up some of the slack. Jiminez and junior Dylan Smith will also see duty on the front line.

Bryan Miksiewicz and junior Mitchell Pokrywa are the goaltenders. Ryan Reed moves to the backline from forward where he started last season. Chris Pokrywa, Josh Rios and juniors Scott Monaghan and Pete Ferlita are the other fullbacks. Jiminez will also play fullback at times.

Last fall Sayreville compiled a 15-4-1 mark and captured the White Division crown for the first time.

The Bombers reached the quarterfinals of the GMC tourney before bowing to St.

Joe's, and for the eighth consecutive

campaign, the team qualified for

the NJSIAA Central Jersey

Group IV playoffs. Cifelli's team met up with Marlboro in

the opening round, losing 6-0.

"I think this team will come

around defensively, the question

really is how well will we

support Kene [Eze]," Cifelli said.

"We know he's going to score, but if he can get some help from the rest of our forwards other teams won't be able to key on him."

Cifelli said he expects his team to once again contend in the White Division and do well in the conference tournament. His other goal is a ninth straight trip to the state playoffs - and to get beyond the opening round.

"This is a talented team and they're very good in the middle of the field and that's always important," the coach said. "Right now they're just starting to come together as a team so I expect we'll get better with each game."

Sayreville was scheduled to return to action at South Plainfield yesterday afternoon and will return to the borough on Saturday to host Woodbridge.