2003 Review

Similar to a certain New York baseball team in the Bronx , the Scotch Plains Boys soccer team has established an outstanding record that has set the bar for success much higher than at most schools. There are few programs in the state where a 22-3-1 record and a state sectional title is considered falling short but Scotch Plains is one of them and despite coming back from a 2-0 second half deficit, the eventual loss on penalty kicks to Ramapo in the state semi finals made the Raiders feel like the Yankees did after losing in the world series to the Marlins.

“It was disappointing not being able to what we set out to accomplish in the beginning of the year. We were unable to win a state championship, which is our primary goal for every season, “ said star senior defender Michael Hessemer.

Additionally, unlike the past three seasons the Raiders were unable to win the Union County title losing 1-0 to a Linden team that Scotch Plains had earlier defeated twice in the regular season. For the seniors it was their first defeat in a county tournament game. Ryan Breznitsky and Ricardo Arrocha had been on the varsity for all three titles while Hessemer, Eddie Zazzali and Josh Kay had played on the Junior Varsity County champions as freshmen and on varsity for the last two.

Still, said Hessemer, the positives easily outweigh the negatives. “We were able
to put OUR numbers on the banner in the gym for a state sectional championship, something that the last 4 teams couldn’t do,” said Hessemer.

It was the eleventh title for coach Tom Breznitsky and came after a titanic struggle through two overtimes in 40 mile per hour winds with the Raiders outlasting another top ten team Middletown South. The game was decided when freshman goalie Bryan Meredith made a diving save in a penalty kick shootout. In the following game against Ramapo, senior Ryan Breznitsky heroically brought the Raiders back with two-second half goals before losing.

The Raiders were unbeaten entering the month of November and were ranked as high as third in the state. As usual Breznitsky scheduled numerous top teams to round out a challenging conference schedule. Scotch Plains ran through its first eight games unscored
and after yielding a goal in a one sided win came back to shutout previously unbeaten Kearny on the Cardinal’s home field. All this was accomplished by an airtight defense spearheaded by a freshman goalie Meredith who played way beyond his years. Other notable wins in the 10-0 start were road shutouts at Ridge, Westfield and Cranford as well as a 1-0 home victory against previously unbeaten Bridgewater Raritan, a group IV finalist.

Hessemer credited an August trip to Holland as a contributing factor to the strong start and the tremendous team unity.

“The trip was a main factor in why we were so close this year.
At almost every practice, bus ride, and pasta party we would bring up jokes from
the trip or just talk about how much fun and how good it was for the team.
Putting 16 kids together for 2 weeks in hotel rooms in Europe may sound like
trouble, but coach trusted us and we proved him right,” said Hessemer.

“ No trouble was caused and that is because everyone was on the same page. “

After their first blemish, a 1-1 tie at Hopewell Valley, the Raiders ran off nine more consecutive victories including three Union County tournament wins and two tough victories over Linden. On a rainy election night tussle at Players Development Academy the team suffered its first defeat against perennial state power St Benedicts.3-0. It initiated a choppy November which included state tournament wins against Colonia(in sudden death overtime) and Ridge and a surprising county final loss to Linden.

Despite losing a talented senior class the Raiders should be strong again next year especially on defense where only Hessemer graduates and all county players Terrence Charles and Meredith return The midfield will have second team all county players Casey Hoynes-O’Connor and Greg Leischner and the offense will have second team all county player Sean McNelis

“I am going to keep in touch with the guys as much as possible,” said Hessemer.
“I know they'll be fine next year.”