BCC men beginning to progress
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Although the trip delayed Wayne Palmer’s first win of his coaching career, Brookdale Community College’s new men’s soccer coach is glad the team went to Maryland to open the season.

Games against powerhouses Rockville and Prince Georges resulted in two losses for the Jersey Blues but left the team more than ready for play in the Garden State Athletic Conference and Region XIX.

Brookdale picked up its first win of the season, 3-0, over Morris in Lincroft after returning from Maryland 0-2. Talented forwards Enoch Dumarsais and Shawn Caltigirone accounted for all three goals, and Carl Martin stopped eight shots in picking up his first career shutout.

"I saw progress in both games (in Maryland)," said Palmer, who got his first career win against Morris. "I’m quite happy we went to the lion’s den. It prepared us for region play."

This is a new season and new Brookdale squad. The Blues have just two starters back from last year’s national runner-up team, and a new coach who is still looking over the roster trying to find out what combinations work best.

One of those combinations is Dumarsais and Caltigirone, both freshmen, on the front line.

Dumarsais, who played his scholastic ball in Asbury Park, started the season at stopper but was moved to the front line with Caltigirone, an ex-Colts Neck star. The duo clicked against Morris producing all three goals.

Caltigirone and Dumarsais are talented players with explosive speed and the ability to finish off plays.

"They have potential," said Palmer. "Right now we’re working on the chemistry between Shawn and Enoch."

Defense, has been the strong point for the Blues thus far.

"I’m happy with the progress of the defense," said Palmer.

Brad Fraley, a sophomore from Neptune, is the backfield leader. The co-captain is one of just two starters returning from last year’s national finalists. He alternates between sweeper and outside back.

Alhassan Quaye, a freshman from Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls, is an outside defender, and Luis Anzulres of Long Branch stepped in at stopper for Dumarsais. Felipe Santos, the freshman from Matawan, has been seeing time at sweeper. Fraley and Santos are the leaders on this group.

Palmer has a nice dilemma at goalie — two equally gifted keepers. He is more than delighted to have Howell grad Martin and Brick Memorial’s Willie Cuzco splitting time each game. An injury kept Cuzco out of the Morris game, enabling Martin to get his first career shutout.

"I’m happy that we have an issue be­tween equally talented goalies," said the coach. "It will sort itself out as the season progresses.

"They have different special talents and they work well in harmony with the defense," he added.

Potentially, midfield will be Brook­dale’s greatest asset because of co-captain Richard Frye, the Matawan graduate who is the only other returning starter from the 2002 Region XIX champion and na­tional junior college tournament runner-up team. Frye has yet to play a minute for the Blues. He’s nursing a high ankle injury that has been getting better each day. His return can’t come soon enough for Palmer.

"Richard is a dominant player," he said. "When we get Richard into the mix, he can get us to the next step."

Right now, Jean Joseph, a sophomore from Asbury Park; Nick Klah, a sopho­more from Monmouth Regional; freshman Brandon Serchio from Toms River South; and a St. John Vianney grad, John Segenatkis, also a freshman, have played midfield. Mike Laspisa, a freshman from Freehold Township, has been the top sub, playing valuable minutes.

When Frye returns, the Blues will be very deep and talented at the midfield. All of the midfielders are two-way players who can push the ball forward to start the attack and play defense.

Palmer has not been afraid to play 15 to 16 players.

Rounding out the 2003 BCC men’s soccer team are Alonso Hans (Long Branch), Chris Howard (St. John Vian­ney, midfield), Olnick Larose (Asbury Park, midfield), Junior Michel (Neptune, forward), Ozgury Orge (Anatolia, Turkey, midfield), Henry Pozo (Interamericano, Ecuador, defense), Padraic Sloan (Middletown South, defense) and Juan Carlos Salas (Long Branch, forward).

Brookdale’s next match in Lincroft is Oct. 1 against Union at 3:30 p.m. in an­other GSAC, Region XIX matchup.