Fenimore, Gill, Calafiore head boys AD team
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff Manalapan sophomore Adam Rice helped lead the Braves to a stellar 14-3-4 campaign this season, emerged as one of the Shore’s up-and-coming players, earning a spot on the All-District team.

Manalapan’s boys soccer team gave new meaning to going the distance.

The Braves played 11 overtime games during 2005 and were involved in 13 one-goal games, winning 11. That was good enough to win the Shore Conference A North Division title for John Natoli’s squad and earn the top ranking in the county.

During their 14-3-4 campaign, the Braves reached the Central Jersey Group IV title game, losing to the top seed North Brunswick in (what else?) overtime, 3-2. The Braves had beaten defending sectional champion Rancocas Valley, 2-0, in the semifinals.

Defender Brett Fenimore and midfielder Alex Baker led a relentless effort in which the Braves contested every 50/50 ball and weren’t timid about sacrificing their body to get to a loose ball. A freshman keeper, Jake Grinkevich, not only played beyond his years, but became a leader on a team that registered 11 shutouts.

The Braves got just enough timely scoring to win those 14 games, led by Adam Rice and Erik Ilisije.

While Manalapan led the A North Division from start to finish, it was Rich Yuro’s Howell Rebels who were the surprise team. The young Rebels found their rhythm at midseason and went on to make the state playoffs. Included in the second half surge was a win over Manalapan, the only loss the Braves suffered in division play, as well as a state playoff victory. They finished the season 10-8-1 with its two main cogs, Paul Calafiore and Kyle Bethel, underclassmen.

Marlboro (8-8-2) rode the play of its standout seniors keeper Ravi Gill and forward Danny Litwok to another postseason appearance for coach Dave Santos.

Art Collier was pleasantly surprised to see his Colts Neck Cougars (9-7-1) participating in the state playoffs. A very young team that was expected to go through a growing season with big prospects for ’06, the Cougars nevertheless contended for the B North title and won a playoff game. Sal Salvati and Tomas Cholulo sparked the Cougars.

The state playoff teams are well represented on the News Transcript’s 2005 All-Freehold Regional District Boys Soccer team. Fenimore, Baker, Rice, Ilisije, Grinkevich and Dann DeLorenzo are the selections from Manalapan. Howell’s Calafiore and Bethel are joined on the squad by teammates Victor Masino and Mike Krol. Marlboro’s Gill, Litwok and Justin Stone, Colts Neck’s Salvati and Cholulo, Freehold Borough’s Ryan Cook and Freehold Township’s Chris Belan round out the team.

Fenimore anchored a defense that recorded 11 shutouts and held up under the pressure of overtime and tight one-goal games, where one mistake could make the difference. As a defensive midfielder, Baker can take some of the credit for Manalapan’s superb play in the backfield. He was an offensive force as well, with a goal and five assists.

Baker and Fenimore were the team co-captains and proved to be outstanding leaders for this championships team.

Goal-scoring was at a premium for the Braves with Rice and DeLorenzo teaming up to score 17 of the team’s 30 goals. Rice, a sophomore midfielder, had 10 goals and two assists while DeLorenzo, also a sophomore, had seven goals and four assists from midfield.

Ilisije came through with two goals and two assists. He scored both his goals in 1-0 wins over Christian Brothers Academy. He’s a junior midfielder.

People kept waiting for Grinkevich to blink and have a freshman-type game, but it never happened. Grinkevich fit right in with the veteran Braves and was the one missing piece to the puzzle that made Manalapan a complete team. The team is certainly set in goal for the next three years.

Calafiore and Bethel were Howell’s marquee players. Calafiore, a junior, started the season at midfield and ended in the back as the team’s stopper. A highly skilled two-way player, he was the trigger man on the offense with his upfield runs. He had five goals and three assists.

Forward Bethel became a major force on the front line with his speed and his talent to finish off scoring chances and pinpoint passing. He led the Rebels in scoring with 10 goals and eight assists and is just a sophomore.

Krol was an outstanding two-way midfielder who was equally effective getting back on defense and pushing the ball forward. He had two goals and two assists.

Masino was the sweeper on a defense that got steadier and steadier with each game.

With Gill in the goal for the last four years, the Mustangs enjoyed their greatest success. It’s no coincidence that they reached the Central Jersey Group IV title game twice with the unflappable Gill as the last line of defense. The senior was as good as ever in ’05 and was the big reason the Mustangs made the state playoffs again. Gill recorded seven shutouts and had a 1.13 goals against average. He graduates as the school’s all-time leader in career shutouts with 24.

An early-season injury forced Litwok to miss games this year, but he still came up with eight goals and one assist. A great finisher, he has a way of finding the net and being in the right place at the right time. He leaves the Mustangs with 27 career goals and 62 points, second all-time in scoring behind his brother, Yoni Litwok (’02), who had 110 points.

Marlboro’s 18 goals-allowed in 18 games speaks volumes for the kind of season that sweeper Stone had. The defense carried the day when Litwok was sidelined.

Salvati and Cholulo were a lethal combination for the Cougars. The senior forwards work very well together not only setting each other up, but their teammates as well. They were the Cougars’ offense. Salvati had 14 goals and five assists for 33 points, and Chulola matched that with his 10 goals and 13 assists.

Midfielder Cook shined for the Colonials, who showed signs of coming back to prominence on the pitch. The senior led the team with four goals and two assists and generally dominated play from midfield.

Junior center-midfielder Belan did many of the same things for the Patriots this year. His one goal and three assists hardly speaks for the way he controlled the game.

Those earning Honorable Mention in 2005 were: Sean Hiller, Colts Neck; Sean Sullivan, Joe Ferraro, Louis Herring and Meir Galmidi, Freehold Borough; Brian Cooney, Jody Smith, A.J. Hamami and Neil Pieszchala, Freehold Township; Justin Schmid, Howell; and George Quintano, Manalapan.