2016-2017 Game Reports
Huskies dramatic comeback falls short in OT, washed out by Green Wave 4-3
9/21/16- The Huskies (0-1) opened their 2016 campaign by quickly spotting Long Branch to a 2-0 halftime lead. Struggles to maintain possession and any midfield presence forced the Huskies into chasing the game. Early into the second half, Giovanni Gallo's left footed curling set piece not only beat the wall but the keeper to his far post, pulling the Huskies within a goal. Long Branch regained a two goal advantage shortly after, by poking home a loose ball inside the six yard box. Gallo picked up his second when he knifed into the six yard box taking on defenders and ripped one for post, closing the deficit to one. Matawan clawed back to level in the dying embers of the second half when midfielder Esben Nielsen found Aaron Reingold who pushed it past a sprawling keeper. Matawan would ultimately fall in OT by golden goal, however the lumps taken equal lessons learned and their unrelenting never quit attitude will serve them well when looking to even their record at Neptune on Friday. The young Huskies dominated the developmental period with quick passing and off the ball movement, Andrew Martins-Mahoney collected his first tally on an assist from Maddox Cole.
Matawan falls to Neptune; Scarlet Fliers speed past Huskies
9/23/16- The Huskies (0-2) hit the ground running as they jumped out to an early one goal advantage when Esben Nielsen thumped home an Andre Wells corner kick at the near post. The lone Husky offensive advantage would be short lived as Neptune equalized before the halftime interval and raced away scoring five consecutive goals, four of them coming in the second half. On an afternoon with few Husky highlights, the developmental period went the way of Matawan as Andrew Martins-Mahoney found the net for a second straight game when he drove home a loose ball that fell to him inside the penalty box. The Huskies look to get their first victory of the year when they travel to Holmdel on Monday afternoon.
Matawan struggle to find solid footing in defeat at Holmdel
9/26/16- The Huskies (0-3) dropped their third consecutive game to start the 2016 season, losing to Holmdel by the score of 5-1. The Huskies struggles continue as they look like docile young pups in defeat conceding five goals in each of the last two games. Losing the battle for possession of the ball, Matawan's attacking opportunities have been scarce, far too few and far between. The Huskies lone moment of offensive brilliance came on the counter attack as they quickly transitioned through the midfield, targeting 8th grade striker Aaron Reingold who carved the Holmdel back four with a diagonal through ball that played Andre Wells in on the keeper. Wells calmly tucked the ball into the corner of the net for his first marker of the season. The Huskies turned in another promising developmental period, failing to score but stringing some quality passes together and working the ball into some dangerous attacking positions, getting strong performances from newcomers: Evan Arendt, Andrew Fanelli, and Maddox Cole. The Huskies won't dwell on defeat for long as they prepare to go out and get their first victory of the season as they travel to Thorne, a team they have dominated over the past few seasons.
Huskies smell scent of victory, win at Thorne
9/27/16- The Huskies (1-3) recorded their first victory of the season by defeating Thorne 2-0. The first half was very evenly contested, both teams watching golden scoring opportunities pass them by. Matawan scratched out the first marker when John Contini headed home a Giovanni Gallo shot that rattled the underside of the crossbar and came out. 6th grader Henry Jacome put the game in the bag, when he doubled the advantage by expertly chipping the keeper after Tom Loniewski played him into space along the edge of the penalty box. Matawan played with confidence and strength, getting stellar performances at new positions from Lucas DiGregorio, Jacob Cole and Dylan Frye. Brendan Deahl made four saves in recording his first shutout. The Huskies also took the developmental period 1-0; Andrew Martins-Mahoney made it 3-out-of-4 games with goals. Matawan looks to stay sharp as they prepare to host Ocean on Friday afternoon.
Huskies ride Colts to 3-1 victory at Cedar Drive
10/5/16- The Huskies (2-3) captured their second victory of the year by defeating Colts Neck 3-1. Despite a quick start which saw Matawan created several quality scoring opportunities, the Huskies once again found themselves trailing early by a scoreline of 1-0. Midway through the first half Matawan leveled the score when 7th grade striker John Contini was first to react, pouncing on a spilled rebound and thumping it home from close range. The Huskies doubled the advantage ten minutes later when Andrew Martins-Mahoney beat a Colts Neck offside trap by sending a ball over the top to an on running Aaron Reingold who powered a blast past the keeper at the far post. Esben Nielsen added an insurance goal midway through the second half when he was first to react and headed home a bouncing Andre Wells corner kick at the near post. Owen Renschler and Lucas DiGregorio anchored the central defense, thwarting any Colts attack and helping Brendan Deahl record his second win of the season. Matawan continue their strong form in the developmental period taking it by a 1-0 score as Anthony Martins-Mahoney found the back of the net for the first time. Matawan looks to even their record on Friday when they host Bayshore.
Huskies blanked by Bayshore, snap winning ways
10/7/16- The Huskies (2-4) once again found themselves down early and struggling to gain any offensive traction on Friday afternoon as they were downed by Bayshore 3-0. Bayshore took the bite out of the Huskies offense by limiting possession and dictating the run of play through the midfield. Lucas DiGregorio and Dylan Frye turned in dominating performances in a losing effort. Matawan looks to re-group and find its winning ways again On Thursday when they host Thompson.
Huskies go back and forth with Thompson, fall in slugfest
10/13/16- The Huskies (2-5) were out quickly on the front foot taking a 1-0 advantage within the first minute of the game. 8th grader Jason Asare was opportunistic when he was first to react to a Husky corner kicked that was spilled inside the six-yard box and fell kindly for him to poke home for his first goal of the season. Matawan would give back this advantage and then some as they would trail Thompson 2-1 at the halftime interval. Into the second half, the Husky attack continued to ask questions of a Thompson backline; finding the seams and alleyways to unlock the goal scoring opportunities only to be turned away unfortunately by the woodwork on four separate occasions. Unlucky and undeterred, Matawan clawed a goal closer when Giovanni Gallo beat a defender on the wing and served in a low driven cross that was thumped home at the near post by Andre Wells. The Huskies would fight to the final whistle but get no closer, in the end falling by a scoreline of 4-2. The Huskies look to bounce back today when they travel to Hazlet.
Huskies blanked by Hazlet, drop third game in a row
10/14/16- The Huskies (2-6) dropped their third consecutive game on Friday afternoon when they were shutout by rival Hazlet 3-0. Matawan was able to create some quality combination play out in the wide channels and into the corners of the attacking third but were unable to convert any of those chances into goals on the scoreboard. 8th grade midfielder Dylan Frye provided a strong presence on the ball in the middle of the field, constantly trying to link the defensive transition into offensive play. Lucas DiGregorio and Owen Renschler provided stalwart defensive efforts in the central backline. The Huskies will look to end their offensive drought when they travel to Ocean today.
Huskies offensive avalanche crush Ocean 6-0
10/17/16- The Huskies (3-6) snapped their losing skid and broke out of a goalless drought by finding the net six times in a shutout victory over Ocean. Esben Nielsen gave Matawan a 1-0 lead when he calmly slotted an Andre Wells pass far post past a sprawling keeper. Matawan took the goal advantage into the halftime interval, before an offensive outburst in the second half which saw the Huskies see their highest offensive output of the season. Dylan Frye doubled the advantage early in the second half when his shot from just inside the eighteen yard box caught a deflection and found the back of the net. Matawan would extend the lead minutes later when winger Esben Nielsen hooked up with 8th grade striker Aaron Reingold just outside the penalty box and Reingold hit a left footed curling shot that beat the keeper high and wide. 6th grader Evan Arendt tallied his first goal of the year when he drew a penalty by being chopped down in the box and then calmly converted the attempt from the penalty spot. Jason Asare and Cory Gilligan put the exclamation point on the win with their long range goals. Brenden Deahl made three saves to secure his second shutout of the season. Matawan looks to stay hot and level the season series with Holmdel on Wednesday.
Huskies comeback falls short; lose season series with Holmdel 0-2
10/19/16- The Huskies (3-7) spotted Holmdel to a 2-0 halftime lead as they struggled to gain any meaningful possession or quality scoring opportunity during the first thirty minutes. The second half saw Matawan play inspiring and passionate team soccer as they quickly mounted a comeback sparked by a Holmdel hand ball in the penalty box that was calmly and expertly converted by Giovanni Gallo. Matawan leveled the score ten minutes later when 8th grade striker Andre Wells clipped a Jason Asare pass over a sprawling keeper and under the bar. The comeback would fall short as Holmdel would get a late winner off a corner kick. The Huskies continue to be at their best when they have high energy movement off the ball and play solid closing team defense. Dennis Leonard provided Matawan with quality minutes off the bench and Tyler Coco showed his continued versatility by playing a solid outside back in a spot starting role. The Huskies will look to sweep the season series with Ocean on Friday when they battle at Strathmore. Mike Sferrazza made several outstanding saves in the developmental period keeping it a one goal scoreline.
Huskies comeback falls short again; split season series with Thorne 1-1
10/24/16- The Huskies (3-8) once again found themselves in a familiar position, trailing at halftime. Matawan spotted Thorne a three goal advantage after the first interval. Matawan down but not out began to chip away at the defecit as Giovanni Gallo bulged the net from fifteen yards out to close the gap by one. Minutes later Owen Renschler grabbed his first assist of the season by springing Andre Wells on the counter attack who professionally tucked it the corner of the net, bringing the Huskies within one. This would be as close as Matawan would come. Seizing momentum and the run of play the Huskies were unable to find an equalizer and gave up a fourth goal as they pushed deep into the attacking third and were left open in the back for a quick counter. Matawan may have lost the game to Thorne but they turned in a dazzling effort in the developmental period scoring four goals in quick succession. 6th and 7th grade upcoming stars Maddox Cole,Corey Gilligan, Evan Arendt and Andrew Fanelli each found the back of the net, showing much promise and potential for the future. Matawan looks to erase a 4-2 defeat to Thorne from their minds when they host Ocean today in the season finale.
Huskies hold off Ocean 2-1, win season finale and sweep Ocean series
10/25/16- The Huskies (4-8) finished their season in winning style by holding off Ocean 2-1 in a hard fought, highly contested victory. Tyler Coco got Matawan off and running with his first goal of the season, a scintillating strike from twenty yards out that was the picture perfection definition of upper ninety leaving the keeper helplesly rooted to his line. Giovanni Gallo added a second marker just before the half on a well placed lobbed shot that rainbowed over the out stretched arms of the Ocean goalie. The Huskies surrendered a goal just before the interval and dug their defensive heels in deep to protect the one goal advantage and secure the victory. James Orleman, Stanley Paluszek, Thomas Loniewski, and Owen Renschler turned out gritty defensive efforts in front of a solid goalkeeping to protect a tenuous and fragile lead. The Huksy pups showed their tenacity and attacking accumen by dominating the developmental period in a 0-0 draw. Matawan finished their season with a 4-8 record.