2009-2010 Game Reports
Matawan 4 Holmdel 1
9/17/09
The Huskies started the 09-10 campaign with a complete dismantling of rival Holmdel at Strathmore Field. Matawan found the score sheet four times in the opening stanza and played a stingy defense throughout the second half securing the victory. Joseph Garofalo opened the scoring three minutes in with a penalty kick that was awarded when a redirected corner kick was handled on the goal line by a Hornet defenseman. Brendan Howley scored the second and third markers of the game with assists from Sam Labinger and Berend Malin respectively. Garofalo added his second goal of the season in the dying embers of the first half on a ball slotted to him inside the six yard box from Malin. Dylan Ahrens had 8 saves in securing the victory. Matawan improves to 1-0 and gears up for a battle with Neptune on Tuesday.
Matawan 5 Neptune 2
9/22/09
The Huskies offensive juggernaut continued its roll with a 5-2 win at Neptune. Berend Malin opened the scoring when he side volleyed home a cross from Brendan Howley. Malin was again on the score sheet minutes later when he was on the business end of a Sam Labinger pass that capped off a Husky counter attack. Joseph Garofalo converted a penalty kick shortly after Neptune had pulled within one goal making the score 3-1 at the half. Malin completed the hat trick in the second half when he blasted home a pass from Matt Isaacson. Sam Labinger scored his first goal of the year and stamped an exclamation point on a second Matawan win when he smacked home an Alex Cella pass inside the 18 yard box. The Huskies improve to 2-0 and go back to work this afternoon in preparation for Hazlet on Thursday.
Matawan 4 Hazlet 2
9/24/09
The Huskies improved their record to 3-0 in outlasting Hazlet in a grueling, physical match that at its worst times resembled a rugby scrum and at its best was reminiscent of a Celtic-Glasgow Rangers darby. Joseph Garofalo got Matawan off the mark when he converted his third consecutive penalty kick giving the Huskies a 1-0 lead at the half. Berand Malin and "supersub" sixth grader Michael Toomey hooked up twice consecutively in the second half to make the score 3-0. Malin capped off the evening with a breakaway goal that he deposited in the back of the net after dribbling around the keeper. Malin's goal earned him a second consecutive hat trick and secured the victory for the Huskies. Dylan Ahrens made nine saves all in key situations to preserve the win. Toomey and Bronsen Dhume added goals in the developmental half. Matawan gears up and prepares for Thompson Middle School on Tuesday.
Matawan 3 Thompson 0
9/29/09
Matawan overcame many early missed oportunities and the resulting frustration that comes with dominating play but failing to finish. The first half was highlighted by flubbed shots and balls rocketed over the crossbar. The scored remained knotted at 0-0 deep into the second half when Huskies' Sam Labinger stole the ball inside the eighteen yard box, beat a man and curled a well placed shot into the side netting. Labinger's goal his second of the year ignited the Matawan offense as it went on two score two more times in a span of three minutes. Berend Malin continued to have the "hot boot" as he added the final two goals both unassisted, his 7th and 8th of the season. Dylan Ahrens played sparkling making ten saves including a tip save off the crossbar that kept the score at zeroes. Ahrens got his fourth victory of the year and his first shutout. Michael Toomey scored his second goal of the year in the developmental half with an assist from Dan Wills. Matawan goes back to work today in preparation for Thorne Middle School on Thursday.
Matawan 2 Thorne 3
10/1/09
Matawan came out of the gates quick on Thursday afternoon jumping all over Thorne en-route to a early 2-0 lead. Alex Cella found the score sheet with a blast from just inside the eighteen yard box that came to rest in the corner of the net. Cella's first goal of the year propelled Matawan to double up when just minutes later Berend Malin tucked home his 9th goal of the year on an assist from Brendan Howley. Matawan continued to dominate but struggled to add to their lead as Thorne battled to hang in and eventually overcame the two goal defecit with three unanswered goals of their own. Bronsen Dhume added a goal in the extra half on an assist from Michael Toomey. Matt Isaacson capped off the evening with his first goal of the year in the developmental half. Matawan prepares for Colts Neck on Monday.
Matawan 6 Colts Neck 2
10/5/09
Huskies turn up the offense and down Colts Neck to improve to 5-1. Matawan showed some resiliency as they bounced back following a tough first loss to Thorne. Brendan Howley scored the first two goals on assists from Sam Labinger and Berend Malin. On both occassions Howley used his size and speed to make a move, beat a defender and go like a bull towards goal. Berend Malin made the score 3-1 early in the second half when he took a ball from Jack DeVizia; blew by two defenders and tucked the ball inside the far post. Minutes later Howley completed the hat trick as he and Malin hooked up for a second time. Malin scored his 11th goal of the season late in the second half when Alex Cella lobbed a through ball over the top of the Colts defense and sent Malin in on the keeper for a breakway. Sixth grader Michael Toomey capped off the evening when he side volleyed home a driven cross from Matt Isaacson. Daniel Wills scored a goal in the extra half. Matawan goes back to work this afternoon in preparation for Long Branch on Wednesday.
Matawan 3 Long Branch 1
10/7/09
Huskies continue to roll as they come back from first half defecit to down Long Branch and improve their record to 6-1. After a first half of battling not only Long Branch but also a devastating wind and tough field conditions, the Matawan boys found themselves in a unfamiliar position: trailing at the half. The simple change in sides seem to put wind in the Husky sails as the second half seem to bring about a more inspired play. Brendan Howley turned an errant goal kick into a breakaway score which knotched the game at 1-1. Berened Malin gave the Huskies the lead for good when he turned a Matt Isaacson throw in into his twelfth goal of the year. Sixth grader Adam Elliott in his first career start got his first career point and continued a theme of strong 6th grade play when his lofted ball sent Berend Malin in on a breakway and sealed the victory for the Huskies. Dylan Ahrens made seven saves in the victory. Huskies on short rest go back to work tomorrow as they host Bayshore.
Matawan 6 Bayshore 0
10/8/09
Matawan gets offensive in 6-0 pounding of Bayshore. The Huskies improved to 7-1, and dominated play from whistle to whistle. Sam Labinger got Matawan off the mark with an unassisted goal ten minutes into the first half. Brendan Howley scored to make it 2-0 when he took a Dylan Ahrens punt and deposited it in the back of the net. Berend Malin scored his 14th goal of the year and capped off a solid first half when he neatly finished a Labinger pass. Seconds into the second half Howley hammered home a Malin cross to make it 4-0. Matt Isaacson capped off the evening with two goals of his own. The first coming off a left footed blast that left the keeper with no chance, Alex Cella credited with the assist. Mike Grillo picked up his first point as he assisted Isaacson's second which was lobbed off the post and in. Ahrens picked up his first assist and second shutout in the win. Matawan gets ready for another slugfest with Hazlet on Tuesday. Both teams will enter Tuesday's match with one loss and all to play for.
Matawan 1 Hazlet 3
10/13/09
In a battle of once beatens Hazlet avenged their only loss by clipping the Huskies 3-1. In a game dominated by Hazlet, Brendan Howley scored Matawan's lone goal on an assist from Berend Malin. The Huskies fall to 7-2 on the year and finish the 09-10 campaign at Holmdel on Friday.
Matawan 4 Holmdel 1
10/23/09
After an extended layoff the Husky boys were back on the pitch and well rested as they took the sting out of the Hornets to finish the season in second place finishing at an 8-2 mark. Matawan got off to a blistering start when Berend Malin scored his 15th goal of the year when Alex Cella sent him in on the keeper with a lobbed ball over a flat defensive back four. Malin added his 16th of the year when he out jumped the keeper with his arms extended to head home a driven cross from Joe Garofalo. A 2-1 halftime score foreshadowed another second half dogfight. The second half saw more physical play and a struggle for possession in a tightly contested match. The perfect setting for another Husky 6th grader to step up and shine like the Toomey's and Elliott's of previous weeks. In a team dominated by 8th graders, it has been the Husky rookies who have at times shined the brightest. Bronsen Dhume seized his opportunity scoring two times in a span of eight minutes to double the Husky advantage and secure another Matawan victory. Malin picked up an assist on the first with a little lay off in the eighteen yard box and Michael Grillo notched the second when his hard nose tackle won possession of a 50/50 ball that Dhume pounded into the back of the "old onion bag". Matawan finishes a productive season at 8-2, sole possession of a second place finish and just one game out of the top spot.