No one could have ever dreamed that the Ferris High School’s boys’ soccer team would begin the 2018 season with eight straight wins – and no losses, the best start in school history.
That includes Ferris’ hard-working head coach Roberto Escobar. He could have never dreamed that the Bulldogs would explode out of the gates, especially since the roster was depleted by graduation, leaving only a handful of returning players, including junior forward Kevin Mejia, the lone true holdover starter from a year ago on the team that lost to Nutley in double overtime in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group III sectional quarterfinals.
“We graduated 15 seniors from last year,” Escobar said. “I didn’t know what to expect, because I didn’t see anyone else who could help us.”
But then Escobar started to hear about the plethora of newcomers that had enrolled in the school since last year.
“We got some guys who came into the United States from other countries in South America,” Escobar said. “I was pleased that they came out, but we start the season with training in the summer. A lot of guys came out, but they weren’t too pleased with the workouts in the summer. They just wanted to play.”
Eventually, the newcomers caught on and began to come to the summer training sessions, getting a little taste of the way Escobar wanted to play.
“We had some scrimmages in the summer,” Escobar said. “We had a scrimmage against Secaucus and I was still trying to work things out. We held our own in a scrimmage against Harrison, so that gave me hope. I was just throwing them in and trying to see where they could play. When we did well in those scrimmages, I knew that we were not going to be too bad.”
Opposing coaches like Josh Jantas of St. Peter’s Prep (another preseason scrimmage) and Mike Rusek of Harrison recognized the improvement of the Bulldogs.
“They said that we looked pretty good,” Escobar said. “I just had to have them learn how to play together. I still honestly thought we were going to have a tougher time. Before you know it, we were playing games that counted and we were ready. I thought then that maybe we were going to be not too bad. But I am a little surprised.”
Manning the nets is sophomore Manuel Brizuela, who was the junior varsity goalie last year.
“He has a solid body,” Escobar said. “He’s tall [at 6-foot-2] and solid. He’s a solid goalie who is progressing well.”
The sweeper is junior Manuel Chanchavaz.
“He’s helped us tremendously back there.”
The team’s stopper is junior Cristian Herrera, also up from the JV. The other two defenders are sophomores Milton Morales and Welman Ramos.
The center midfielder is sophomore Gabriel Archaga, who has contributed six goals and 10 assists in the early portion of the season.
“He’s very skillful and very talented with the ball,” Escobar said.
The other midfielders are juniors Felipe Barahona and Erasmus and Justin Schall, who are cousins that play well together.
“They all complement each other well,” Escobar said. “They share the ball well. The Schall cousins are dangerous on the outside, because they are so quick.”
Erasmus Schall has nine goals and eight assists thus far.
The forwards are junior Mejia and junior Amara Conte, who has 11 goals so far. Mejia has been the perfect team leader and is the team’s leading scorer with six goals and 11 assists.
“Kevin is such a team player,” Escobar said. “He’s very unselfish and gives the ball to the other players.”
Notice one thing about the unblemished roster. There is not a senior among the lot.
How about this for how well the team is playing together? In a recent win over Marist, Mejia thought it would be a nice gesture to allow Brizuela to play among the rest. So Mejia took the goalie’s jersey, knee pads and gloves and traded spots with Brizuela.
“That was the first time I ever put one of the players in goal to let the goalie play,” Escobar said. “Kevin always wanted to play in goal and Brizuela went onto the field. It was a great thing to see.”
Brizuela collected two assists during his time on the field. Mejia had three helpers. It was a game to remember – and a start to remember.
“I think we’re in great shape,” Escobar said. “We’re happy with the outcome so far. The first true test will come soon.”
The Bulldogs will face Orange in an independent game this week….
Speaking of boys’ soccer, the Union City Soaring Eagles scored a huge win recently with their 6-3 win over defending Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League champs and NJSIAA Group IV state champion Kearny.
The Union City win snapped a 31-game unbeaten streak overall and a 27-match unbeaten streak in the HCIAL. Olman Baregas had two goals and one assist and Erick Chicas tallied two goals. It was the first time Kearny allowed six goals in a game since 2003.
“I’m just super proud of my kids,” said Union City head coach Bill Shapiro. “It’s definitely one of the biggest wins we’ve ever had. It gives us the confidence to know that we can play with anyone.”
Congrats to retired Hoboken Police Officer Dennis Cruz on his marriage to his now-wife Mika. Dennis is a fixture at the Hackensack University Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center, powered by the New York Giants, and is religious with his rigorous workouts. He is an inspiration to everyone at the facility.
Jim Hague can be reached via e-mail at OGSMAR@aol.com
