Strong Start to the Season for Johnson Boys Soccer

The Johnson boys soccer team had its work cut out for itself after graduating 16 seniors from last year’s team that went 15-3-3. But, thus far in the 2011 season, there is cause for optimism as the Clark school has won three of its first five games.

“A lot of the players that were on JV last year and on the bench for us have stepped up and are playing well,” said fourth-year head coach Dan House. “We’re basically just looking to fill the holes left by those players that we’ve lost.”  

On Tuesday, Sept. 20, senior Tyler Faede scored the only goal of the game as Johnson earned a 1-0 victory over previously-undefeated Summit in Summit. Junior goalie Nick Stolarz posted his third shutout of the year with an eight-save effort.

In fact, all five of Johnson’s games this year have been one-goal decisions. The team started the year with back-to-back 1-0 victories over Hillside and Rahway. Against Hillside on Sept. 9, Faede had the game’s only goal off a pass from Dan Mullin eight minutes into overtime and Stolarz made eight saves to earn the shutout. Faede again came up big for Johnson against Rahway on Sept. 13 when he connected 13:41 into the second half to back the six-save effort from Stolarz as Johnson improved to 2-0.

Johnson was defeated for the first time when it played at Governor Livingston on Sept. 15 and bowed, 1-0. On Saturday, Sept. 17, Brearley of Kenilworth paid a visit to Clark and came away with a 2-1 victory. Johnson took a 1-0 lead on Brian Sheridan’s first-half header before Brearley scored the final two goals of the game. Both teams that Johnson has lost to – Brearley and Governor Livingston – are still undefeated.

“Tyler has three big goals for us and is doing very well,” said House. “And Nick has stepped up in goal and done a well.”

Stolarz has some big shoes to fill as he’s replacing Rob Haddad, who was an All-Union First Team selection for The Star-Ledger last fall.   A year ago, Johnson reached the semifinal round of the Union County Tournament, where it played Scotch Plains to a scoreless tie through 100 minutes. Scotch Plains advanced to the final when it won a shootout, 6-5. Johnson rebounded to reach the semifinal round of the Central Jersey, Group 2 state tournament where it lost to North Plainfield, 3-0.  

Stolarz will have plenty of defensive support in a backfield made up of seniors Ryan Gallagher and Nick Wroblewski and juniors Mike Viera and Matt Dunn.

“We have a solid forward in Joe Rubano and its only a matter of time until he gets going,” said House. “We’re working hard and starting to click as a team.”  

Johnson will face a stern test on Thursday when it hosts Union at 4 p.m. The team then goes for the season sweep against Rahway when it plays away on Saturday.  

JOHNSON BOYS SOCCER 2011 SCHEDULE  

Sept. 9: at Hillside (W, 1-0)
Sept. 13: vs. Rahway (W, 1-0)
Sept. 15: at Gov. Livingston (L, 1-0)
Sept. 17: vs. Brearley (L, 2-1)
Sept. 20: vs. Summit (W, 1-0)
Sept. 22: vs. Union, 4
Sept. 24: at Rahway, 11
Sept. 27: vs. New Providence, 4
Sept. 29: vs. Roselle, 4
Oct. 4: at Oratory, 4
Oct. 6: vs. Union Catholic, 4
Oct. 7: at Scotch Plains, 3:30
Oct. 11: vs. Roselle Catholic, 7
Oct. 18: vs. Gov. Livingston, 4
Oct. 21: at New Providence, 4
Oct. 25: vs. Oratory, 4
Oct. 27: at Union Catholic, 4
Nov. 3: vs. Summit, 4