Morales, Lepinski lead JFK boys soccer over Carteret

WOODBRIDGE  - The J.F. Kennedy High School boys soccer team had an idea of what to expect when it faced Carteret for the second time this season, but it didn't make winning the game any easier.

The Mustangs (4-2-2), which had defeated Carteret 2-0 on opening day on Sept. 8, needed almost 54 minutes to score their only goal of the game, which held up to beat the Ramblers, 1-0, in a Greater Middlesex Conference White Division matchup on Tuesday afternoon.

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"We knew they were looking for their first win, so they're going to be a tough team," J.F. Kennedy's Nick Lepinski said. "They're a young team with good players, they're technical, and we had to play hard to take the win today."

The Mustangs outshot Carteret (0-7-1) in the first half, 5-3, and in the second half finally connected. Lepinski took the throw in, and sent the ball into the box where David Morales was waiting.

"I came off for a big throw and I threw it into the box, and he put it into the net," Lepinski said.

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"Three players missed, I had to clean it up," Morales added. "We hit the cross bar a couple times, the keeper got a couple of touches on the ball, eventually one was going to go in."

According to Morales, finally getting a point on the board spelled relief for the Mustangs, who were able to just play defense in order to keep the Ramblers from tying the game.

"We were pressuring them, they were attacking us pretty well," Lepinski said of the defense. "We just kept our shape and we were winning the ball in the back and playing it up to our forwards."

J.F. Kennedy, which started the season 3-1-1, entered Tuesday's game coming off a 4-0 loss to South Plainfield and a 1-1 tie against Sayreville, two tough White Division opponents. Getting the win against Carteret was the pickup the Mustangs needed to get back on track.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Mustangs are pretty balanced, as Morales, Isaiah Diaz, Mohamed Abdelaal and Dimeji Oyinkolade lead the team with two goals apiece. Abdelaal and Christopher Osorio each have three assists, while four other players have at least one point. Goalie Michael Sandor has anchored a defensive line that has posted three shutouts.

"We have high expectations, so we should be good for the rest of the season," Morales said.

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego