Quintano, Bethel top District soccer team
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
With Manalapan taking care of the state, and Howell taking care of the Shore Conference, the Freehold Regional District won everything there was to win in boys soccer.

John Natoli's Braves capped a memorable three-year run by capturing their first state championship. The Braves played Clifton to a 1-1 draw in the NJSIAA Group IV state final, played on the pitch at The College of New Jersey to share the crown with the North Jersey champions.

The Braves had reached the title game for the first time in school history last year before falling to West Orange. This year, it was a more enjoyable final as they left with a state title.

Manalapan won its second straight Central Jersey Group IV title by beating Howell, 1-0, in a tense final on George Quintano's first-half goal.

After starting the season 2-2, the Braves were 20-1-3 over the final two months of the season.

Manalapan used its intense defense with goalie Jake Grinkevich in the back and the dangerous Quintano up front to secure the Group IV co-championship.

While the Braves ruled the postseason, it was Rich Yuro's Rebels who dominated the Shore Conference. Howell won its second straight A North Division title and went on to win its first Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) championship, beating defending champion Manalapan, 1-0, on Kyle Bethel's first-half goal. It made Howell 2-0-1 against the Braves. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the Braves breakthrough was in the sectional final, played in Howell. The Rebels thus finished their season at 21-3-1.

Manalapan and Howell both overshadowed what was a very good season in soccer.

Marlboro and Freehold Township also made the SCT and state playoffs.

Todd Briggs' Patriots were the surprise team of the early season, knocking off Howell at the start of the campaign. Dave Santos' Marlboro Mustangs made their usual October charge to the postseason. This year, the Mustangs made school history by advancing to the SCT semifinals for the first time. They ran into eventual champion Howell.

Quintano and Bethel, two of the finest players in the state, head the Greater Media's 2007 All-Freehold Regional District boys soccer team. Making up the squad are: Manalapan's Grinkevich, Adam Rice, Brandon Russo and Caner Semen; Howell's Cody Calafiore, Billy Kappock, Eric O'Neill and Brian McDonough; Freehold Township's Brendan Noesges Ryan Clark and Logan Smith; Marlboro's Hunter Gorskie, Alex De- John and Mike Stone; and Colts Neck's Sean Hiller.

Bethel, who is headed for Duke University, was slowed early in the season by a high ankle sprain, which kept his numbers down. The Rebels survived without him in September, and once he was at full speed the team took off. Bethel played his best soccer in the postseason, leading Howell to its first SCT title, scoring the game's only goal, and to the CJ finals.

The future Blue Devil scored 19 goals and had 11 assists despite only being healthy for the last two or three weeks of the season. K.B., as he is called by his teammates, can do it all on the soccer field. Physically strong with the ball, fast and with the ability to score with either foot with a searing shot, he was every bit as effective setting teammates up.

Quintano, who has made a verbal commitment to Monmouth University, seemed to have a part in every big goal the Braves scored during the state playoffs. He had the only score against Howell and assisted on Jeff Weitz's tally in the state final. A four-year letter-winner, Quintano blossomed into one of the most dangerous players in the state. With his breakaway speed and nose for the goal, there was no frightening site for teams than Quintano rushing up field. He became more of a finisher this fall, leading the Braves with 27 goals, but he still assisted on 16 more.

Midfielder Rice was the Braves' field general. The offense flowed from his play in the center of the field. He assisted on 15 goals and scored 11 times. Both he and Quintano played four years on varsity for Manalapan.

Semen gave teams more than Quintano to be concerned with on the Manalapan forward line. He had eight goals and 11 assists.

Grinkevich has been a force since his freshman year, and the Braves will be secure knowing he is back there again next year. The junior posted 15 shutouts this year and has 40 for his career with another year to go. Manalapan is 54-10-8 since he's been in goal.

Russo, a senior, was the mainstay of that defense that helped Grinkevich register those 15 shutouts. The Brave defenders protected their goalie by blocking shots at every opportunity.

Calafiore, a junior, is one of the parttime players from '06 that stepped his game up, enabling Howell to hold onto its North title and win the SCT. The midfielder worked very well with Bethel, giving Howell as good a one-two as anyone in the Shore. In his first full-time season, Calafiore had 14 goals and 16 assists.

O'Neill was a quietly efficient member of a very solid Rebel midfield unit. The senior had six goals and eight assists.

Kappock, like Calafiore, was one of the role players in '06 who raised their games and helped shore up a defense that was questionable before the season started. The stopperback still found time to score four goals and dish out seven assists.

Howell could not have been a championship team without the play of McDonough, a junior, in goal. He was dependable and didn't allow soft goals. He had 14 shutouts. The Rebels will begin '08 knowing they are strong in goal.

Marlboro was 2-6 and in trouble when coach Dave Santos made the move that turned the season around. He switched De- John back to sweeper, and immediately the Marlboro defense stopped being porous. The team went 11-5 the rest of the way, which says it all.

Gorskie, who is also a junior, set a school record for assists in a single season with 17. He was the team's distributor. The midfielder also netted eight goals.

Stone, led the Mustangs in scoring this year with 13 goals. The senior forward also chipped in with eight assists.

Noesges, a junior, set a Patriot single season record for assists with 11 while knocking in six goals. He was the attack center-midfielder while Clark was the defensive centermidfielder. Clark did tally five goals and nine assists. With both being juniors, they will be the team's cornerstones next fall.

Hiller, who has been a four-year varsity player for the Cougars, displayed his versatility this year playing up front and on defense. It was on defense where the University of Virginia-bound Hiller excelled.

Those earning Honorable Mention for 2007 are: Parker Fitzpatrick, Lou Chiappone and Cameron Sorsby, Colts Neck; Luis Herring, Freehold Borough; Nick Composto, Ben Greenwald and Dan Mularz, Freehold Township; George DiCharo, Kevin Carbone and Joe Parella; Howell; Jeff Weitz and Greg Grzelak, Manalapan; Jack Parkin and Mike Rothenberg, Marlboro.