Boys Soccer: South Plainfield primed for competitive season

Don't call this a rebuilding year for the South Plainfield High School boys soccer team. 

Despite losing five All-Greater Middlesex Conference White Division players from last year's roster, South Plainfield coach Anthony Perfilio is confident in his team's ability this season. 

The Tigers just need to start scoring goals. 

"I think it’s going to impact us in the way of scoring, our scoring is lacking this year and that’s going to be hurtful," Perfilio said of the graduation losses. "We lost Jacob Villacres, he was a key player for four years and now we have to rely on other people to score and set up goals, and we’re still waiting for that person to take that step and make that move. We’re really young this year and that’s difficult, I have three seniors that are going to play, three juniors that are going to play and for the most part the rest is freshmen and sophomores. I think we’ll be competitive but the physicality is going to be rough."

Along with Villacres, who led South Plainfield with 17 goals and nine assists last year, the Tigers also lost defender Jason Cieszkiewicz, forward Jake Hoffman, midfielder/defender Jared Marks and All-GMC and All-State goalie Nick Plate. 

The good news for South Plainfield is there are a number of players returning from last year's squad that finished 15-6-1, won the GMC White Division title, advanced to the GMC Tournament semifinals and the NJSIAA Central Group II quarterfinals. 

Senior Isaiah Storah returns and will look to lead the team from the middle of the field after finishing with four goals and one assist last season. 

"He’s a very good player, he’s always played outside mid and forward and now he’s going to have to play in the middle," Perfilio said of Storah. "He’s going to have to lead us and I’m waiting for him to really get us going. He’s probably the best player on the field but he can’t do it alone, he’s going to need some help."

Senior John Boyce played a mix of forward and midfield last season but is playing primarily as a forward this year. According to Perfilio, "he’s already causing issues for the other team’s defense."

Adrian Dominguez, who started as a freshman last season, is returning from an injury and will start, and fellow sophomores Gabe Mont and Nick Atehortua also return. 

"We’re hoping they’ll play as veterans, as a unit it’s hard to tell right now," Perfilio said. "I think we’ll be good, but time will tell."

The defense will be a bright spot for the Tigers this season with Marc Giordano, who converted from a forward/midfielder to a center back, and Ian McCoid at center mid. Bryan Cruz, a freshman who Perfilio calls "a legit keeper," will replace Plate in goal. 

"As a unit I think we have a solid 12, 13, 14 kids, we have to make sure we don’t have injuries, once we start losing people it’s going to be tough," Perfilio said. "I think if we play to our ability and don’t start off slow and some of the younger guys are able to handle the physical aspect of high school soccer, we’re going to be ok. The seniors I’m not worried about, it’s the sophomores that are playing and starting and the expectation is very high and we need them to play as men."

South Plainfield will be tested this season in the White Division as Sayreville and GMC Tournament champion North Brunswick return tough teams. Perfilio said that Woodbridge is a team to keep an eye on, and the Tigers will also face Ridge on Sept. 9 and perennial powerhouse Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Oct. 16. 

"I’m always looking forward to being competitive, when I first started we had three wins and I don’t want to ever go back to that again," Perfilio said. "If you start to lose it becomes habit forming and guys get down on themselves, but I’m hoping to be competitive, which I think we will be. Even though we lost a lot of guys we’ll be surprising at times and hopefully win the White Division, that’s our first goal. We still have a chance to do that and then be competitive in the tournaments, and it’s always our goal to be competitive."

HNT/GMC PRESEASON TOP 10

1. North Brunswick (16-4-2)

2. Monroe (16-4-1)

3. St. Joseph (12-7-2)

4. South Brunswick (14-6-1)

5. South Plainfield (15-6-1)

6. Sayreville (8-9-1)

7. New Brunswick (12-5-2)

8. East Brunswick (9-10-1)

9. Spotswood (13-6)

10. South River (15-5-1)

COURIER NEWS PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Bernards (22-1-1)

2. Westfield (15-4-2)

3. Pingry (12-5-1)

4. Hunterdon Central (18-1-2)

5. Gill St. Bernard's (17-4-1)

6. Bridgewater-Raritan (13-4-1)

7. Scotch Plains-Fanwood (22-4)

8. Bound Brook (12-8)

9. Somerville (10-8-1)

10. Montgomery (11-7)

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