Ed Zazzali

Like many first time attendees of Scotch Plains boys soccer games, Roy Sarcona
was totally amazed when he first saw Raiders’ senior halfback Ed Zazzali
unleash one of his patented “flip “ throw ins. But unlike the general spectator who marveled at the athletic ability it took to take a soccer ball, do a 180 degree front
somersault and upon landing throw the ball up to 60 yards, Sarcona was more
interested in the scientific angle.

Sarcona, a physics teacher at Scotch Plains Fanwood High School along with
another physics teacher Tom Paterson are planning to record the throws with a digital
camera and use the material as a basis for future physics lessons on uniform motion and forces.

“I was totally amazed when I first saw Ed perform the flip throw in – the
height and velocity of the ball appeared to be significantly greater than
those thrown in by hand. I was also amazed at the number of times Ed did
this during the game, “ said Sarcona who had never seen a live soccer game
until this season.

Zazzali, while pleased that his exploits have caused such scientific interest,
looks at himself as doing nothing that unique, just the latest in a long line
of Raider flip throwers, the previous being two time all county halfback
Michael Zotti.

“We have always had flip throwers in Scotch Plains, and Mike did it before me.
Before Zotti, it was Javier Sanchez Mariscal. Coach Brez had us compete
against each other in front of all his Campers one day at Raiders Soccer Camp.
and Javier passed the torch on to me as one of his successors ,“ said Zazzali.

Zazzali had learned of the technique on his own reading about
in Sports Illustrated for Kids when he was 9 years old.
“We always tried to do it in practice fooling around, and by 7th grade I
started getting some distance. By 9th grade, I knew this was going to be fun
because we started scoring goals off of it,” said Zazzali who actually scored a
goal directly off one of his throws earlier this season against Union.

“It was the first throw of the day, two minutes into the match. The ball went
out at the 35 yard line, and I figured I might have a chance of catching the
goalie off guard So I tried to throw it to the back post, and it went through
his hands and into the goal, “ said Zazzali.

“ I did it (scored) in my sophomore year against Linden also, and I've done it in summer
league games too. But this one seemed to be the nicest.”

While it may be commonplace under Coach Tom Breznitsky, the throw ins have been
a great source of curiosity the past two summers when the team went overseas.

“When we traveled to Brazil in 2002, the referee in our first game in Sao Paolo
started calling illegal throws because he had never seen such a thing. And it
is pretty hard to argue with someone when they do not speak your language.”
recalled Zazzali.

“ After one of the games down there, they had an interpreter interview me
while I demonstrated how to do it. My team mates were yelling at me for giving
away the American secret weapon.”

The wonderment continued in Holland this summer after one of Zazzali’s throws
to a team mate resulted in a goal. “The ref never stopped staring at me during
the entire sequence. It's really funny to see some people's reaction. The
foreign countries really wanted to know how I did it, and the crowds were
always asking questions during our games.” said Zazzali.

As would be expected the skill has only developed through hard work and some
natural athletic ability. Zazzali, while not a serious diver can do about 2 ½
flips off a diving board. For the strength aspect he works with a trainer,
Bruce Bowers, who has used medicine balls and weight training but Zazzali has
never done anything specific to the throw. There is much more to Zazzali than just flipping. He has shown the knack for scoring big goals like the one earlier this year at Kearny when he headed in a Ryan Breznitsky corner for the only goal in a battle between the state’s third and fourth ranked teams. The following night against a tough Hopewell Valley team Zazzali against got the first goal of the game for the Raiders but the contest ended badly when the game ended in a tie and Zazzali injured his knee late in the game.
After getting stitches, Zazzali missed one game but was back flipping as well as ever in the country tournament opener against David Brearly when his first two monster tghrows almost resulted in goals.

“His throw ins are like an extra corner kick,” said the elder Zazzali.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Zazzali is a starting infielder for the baseball team. The senior Zazzali, also named Ed, first met Tom Breznitsky, when played on Breznitsky’s jayvee baseball team. And Zazzali also is seen as the sports anchor on a local public access. “He’s a natural for that ,” said his father.

While Zazzali has faced few opposing teams who had flip throwers the next Scotch Plains flip thrower may be his younger sister Allie, already a starter on the girls’ team as a freshman this year. Allie, a defensive player scored two goals in the opening round of the Union County tournament against Elizabeth.

“She started practicing it a few years ago, but it’s not something you do unless
you can be effective,” said Zazzali.
“With a little more practice the girls may have a flip thrower in the future.
She can throw the ball pretty well without flipping but once she gets stronger,
who knows?”

While it is unquestionably an extra weapon in the Raiders’ offensive arsenal
there are limitations to Zazzali’s use of it. For obvious reasons it is
important that the ball be dry and Zazzali said he needed at least ten feet on
the sideline to give him enough room but he is able to conventionally throw 35
yards which on a standard soccer field gets the ball dangerously close to the
goal mouth. Being able to flip throw adds about 25 yards to Zazzali’s distance.

As is often the case the final explanation lies with the scientist:
“The more force you apply to an object the higher the acceleration and the
higher the acceleration the further the object travels,” said Sarcona.

Bryan Meredith

Take two high school programs from the same town-one the benchmark for success in Central Jersey, the other trying to make its reputation. Add two coaches, one a legend nearing 500 wins, the other in his second season. Combine that with the specter of each team losing a multi year starter at goalie to graduation last year and you have the formula for the almost unfathomable reality of both Scotch Plains Fanwood high school soccer teams starting freshman goalies this fall.

And if the early results are any harbinger, the coaches Tom Breznitsky(Boys) and Kevin Ewing(girls) should feel vindicated about their confidence and guts to start previously untested newcomers in the most high profile and pressure filled soccer position. Through five games Bryan Meredith had been unscored upon including whitewashes of local rivals Westfield, Cranford and Plainfield. Girls keeper Lauren Mains was no less impressive, helping the Raiders to historic triumphs over previous nemesis Westfield and Cranford while also leaving the goal to score against Newark East Side.

Breznitsky, nearing a quarter century as Raiders’ coach has won an impressive 467 games but none of those wins had come with a freshman starting as goalie. “We have had some freshmen get time in the goal but none was an actual starter. Bryan has done an excellent job thus far this season. He plays well beyond his years, “ said Breznitsky.

Ewing’s team has reversed their inauspicious 0-4 start to his initial season in 2002 by winning their first four games due in no small part to four freshmen starters led by Mains. “Lauren is a great athlete,“ said Ewing.

“She doesn’t play or act like a freshman. “

While their talent was evident from an early age where both joined traveling teams as early as allowable, they have recently taken different paths to success. Mains is an all around athlete excelling in softball, basketball and football at Park Middle School where she held her own with the boys. Soccer is not necessarily her favorite sport.

“I don't have a favorite sport, I like to play all of them,” said Mains, who admitted a soft spot for football.

“I do miss football. Sometimes at water breaks I would sneak a look at them practicing, but I couldn't be happier playing soccer with this team.”

Meredith, on the other hand, has eschewed other sports to be a year round player, starring for the two time defending state club champions Players Development Academy (PDA) Socrates of Zarepath, NJ.

“I don't play any other sport because I prefer to focus on Soccer. Many
of my teammates on the Varsity team and at Socrates play baseball, and
basketball and other sports at a competitive level, I just love soccer,” said Meredith.

Among his PDA teammates are two other town residents Robert Cunningham and Brian Hessemer, whose older brother Mike is a three year starter for the Raiders.
“Playing with Brian on Socrates and Michael on the Varsity team is great because it is one less new name to remember. They are both great players and teammates”, said Meredith who appreciates how easy his teammates have accepted him.

“ Michael and Ryan(Breznitsky)made me feel welcome right away during tryouts “, said Meredith.

“We had seem him play enough at PDA to know how talented he was “, said the younger Breznitsky. “ He has a tremendous amount of poise and confidence for a freshman.”.

“PDA has prepared me very well because we have played in many high level
tournaments with great competition. As a Goalie they also provide me
goalkeeping training. Mr. Blogett is my trainer he works us very hard to
make us better,” said Meredith.

There is little rest for Meredith who continues to play on weekends for his PDA club which is a veritable who’s who of outstanding young New Jersey soccer talent who attend schools like Delbarton, Pingry and St. Benedicts.. This weekend Meredith hopes to contribute to a third straight state title for PDA.
“So far there has not been a problem I have told Bryan our expectations of
him and have working together with his club coaches to work out any
potential conflicts,” said Tom Breznitsky.

The girls’ co-captain Chelsea Mintz is just as impressed with Mains. “She has the strongest hands I’ve ever seen on a goalie, “ said Mintz.. “When she gets to the ball nobody is going to take it from her.”

For Mains the toughest adjustment to high school play has been taking charge on a field with older players. “Before this year I never really said things, like man on, or you mark # 7. I learned that as a goalie you have to talk to your team, because you can see the whole field,” said Mains.

The two freshman have become friends and mutual admiration societies.
“Lauren is in some of my classes and we are friends so I am very
aware of the great start to the girls season as well as our own,” said Meredith.

“I have never thought about trading tips with him, but I like that idea. I know him pretty well, we are in the same Spanish class,” said Mains. Lauren and Bryan the Spanish word for great goalkeeper is Gran encargado de la meta