Dead Balls

More than any other major sport, soccer is a game of non-stop action. Unlike basketball and hockey there are no timeouts, few substitutions and almost no play stoppages except for fouls and when the ball goes out of bounds. Those occasions result in what are referred to as dead ball situations-direct kicks, throw ins and corner kicks where an amazing percentage of goals result..

In the 2004 European Championships, the surprising winners, Greece, won their final three games by identical 1-0 scores, with all the goals coming off corner kicks. In the most recent World Cup in 2002 almost 70 % of the goals came on dead ball situations.
The successful teams know how important these situations are and excel at them.

The 2003 Scotch Plains Fanwood soccer team had a lethal combination of dead ball specialists. Halfback Ed Zazzali gave the Raiders a scoring threat on any throw he took. Executing a full somersault he was able to catapult the ball an incredible 60 yards. On two occasions a goalie was unable to catch one of his throw ins resulting in goals. At least several times a game his throw ins resulted in scoring opportunities.

Center forward Ryan Breznitsky, a two time first team all state player, took almost every offensive direct kick including corner kicks and penalty kicks and was a threat from 40 yards in. He saved his most scintillating direct kick for the biggest stage, the state semi finals against Ramapo which spearheaded a second half comeback that tuned a 2-0 deficit into a tie that was broken in that most tense dead ball contest-a penalty kick shootout.

All county center fullback Mike Hessemer was skillful in taking a majority of defensive free kicks. His long floating kicks were frequently converted into scoring opportunities.

The Raiders were clearly not a good team to stop the action against. as the three seniors led them to a 21-3-1 record and a state sectional title.

Unfortunately all those specialists graduated but Coach Tom Breznitsky doesn’t seem too concerned. With 488 victories in 29 seasons Breznitsky has obviously succeeded in replacing talented graduates before. As the cliché goes, Scotch Plains Fanwood soccer doesn’t rebuild, it reloads. In some cases the dead ball duties will be handled more by committee instead of one specialist.

Zazzali and his predecessor Mike Zotti had given Breznitsky six consecutive seasons of long distance flip throw ins but the more conventional Jeff Bell is almost as good according to Breznitsky.
“He can’t throw as far as Ed did but he’s pretty effective ,” said Breznitsky.

Senior halfback Casey Hoynes-O’Connor, a skilled playmaker, will take over much of the free kick responsibility.

All county sweeper Terrence Charles will also take many free kicks both offensive and defensive. Charles is expected to take over the pressure packed responsibility of taking penalty kicks.

Both Hoynes-O’Connor successfully made their penalty kicks in shootouts against Middletown South in the section finals and Ramapo in the state semifinals.

In a weekend tournament at Tom River, where the Raiders compiled a 2-0-1 record against the likes of Christian Brothers Academy (CBA), Ramapo and Howell Township,
they scored two goals off dead ball situations. Charles connected on a penalty kick against CBA and Sean Young headed in a Billy Albizati corner kick.

“It’s going to be different this year , “ said Breznitsky. “Last year we knew Ryan was going to take just about every free kick.

“ We have to look at a lot of different possibilities but I’m confident we have the talent to
be successful.”