OCEAN 9/24 AWAY

 Your beloved Huskies kicked off their 2021 soccer season with a thorough 4-0 defeat to Ocean Intermediate. The Huskies brought plenty of enthusiasm and effort to the pitch but came up short, surrendering four unanswered goals.  Gavin Veres did his best effort to keep the scoreline respectable, turning away six shots. Colin Reitmann and Michael McCabe sparkled in the season debut, offering some creative play and challenged every tackle with rugged vigor. Rolando Person played inspired soccer as a 8th grade newcomer. The Huskies hope to even their record when they travel to Thorne.

THORNE 9/28 AWAY

 The Matawan Huskies fell to (0-2) after a second consecutive loss to start the 2021 campaign.  The Huskies got off the bus with a full head of steam and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.  Michael McCabe found the ball at his feet after some Husky interplay through the midfield and, when challenged by a Thorne defender, McCabe clinically tucked it into the corner for his first goal of the season.  The celebrations would be early and short lived for the Huskies who conceded four unanswered goals on route to the loss. Not to be discouraged Matawan dominated the developmental period with a 3-0 thrashing of Thorne, buoyed by a Ryan Hart free kick that got them off the mark.  Lucas Rizzuto netted a second minutes later when he pounced on a pass from Ryan Hart.  Rizzuto picked up a helper on the third goal of the period when he assisted Robert Andreacchi's goal from inside the six yard box.  Matawan looks to get their first win of the season next time out.

NEPTUNE 10/4 AWAY

 Your beloved Huskies (1-2) picked up their first victory of the 2021 campaign when they downed Neptune by a 2-0 scoreline.  In a tightly contested contest through most of the first half the Huskies put their noses out in front 1-0 when Trevor Cole surgically split the Fliers backline to put Sean Sobocinski on goal where he calmly bulged the back of the net from 18 yards out.  Cole would play creator again when he put Artur Przybyla on net and the newcomer added his first marker of the year. Gavin Veres earned the clean sheet with 3 saves, all in key.  Matawan also took the developmental period by a 2-0 mark, lifted by goals from Lucas Rizzuto and Robert Andreacchi who neatly tucked home a Ryan Hart pass. The Huskies look to continue their winning ways when they host Long Branch on Wednesday.

LONG BRANCH 10/6 HOME

 The Huskies (1-3) played their most inspired game to date against a stout Long Branch team, falling 0-2.  Matawan fell behind 0-1 when they conceded a penalty in the latter stages of the first half, when Gavin Heyward dragged down a Green Wave attacker in the box.  They gifted a second early in the second half when a cross from the corner found its way into the back of the net.  Michael McCabe played a tough brand of soccer patrolling the midfield while inspired efforts were turned in by Sean Sobocinski and Lucas Rizzuto.  Artur Pyzybala was a frequent threat in the attacking third looking to create opportunities for himself and his teammates. Marc Mallozzi found the back of the net in the developmental period when he played poacher pouncing on a rebound and poking it home for his first goal of the season. Matawan will look to get back in the win column next week when they host Colts Neck.

CEDAR DRIVE 10/13 HOME

 Your Huskies (2-3) recorded their second win of the season when they narrowly edged Colts Neck by a scoreline of 2-1 in a tightly contested match.  Matawan drew first blood when 8th grade forward Sean Sobocinski slotted a diagonal ball through the Colts back line putting 6th grade newcomer Edward Gleason in on goal for an easy tap-in.  A scrappy Colts Neck team drew level prior to the half time interval.  The second half was a back and forth scrap for the ball as both teams struggled to maintain possession or create scoring opportunities. The Huskies efforts finally paid dividends when the Colts Neck keeper spilled a cleared ball which fell kindly to Sobocinski, who was first to pounce, collect the ball and deposit it into the back of the net for the eventual game winner. Gavin Veres played strong in goal recording 5 saves and Derek Busch turned in a stout performance on the back line challenging with venom on every tackle and rising to win many 50/50 balls. The Huskies look to continue to roll when they host favored Hazlet today.

HAZLET 10/14 HOME

 Your beloved Huskies evened their record at (3-3) when they picked up their second win of the week and third overall knocking off a physical, well skilled Hazlet team that came off the bus ready to get into the fray.  Matawan met this intensity from the opening whistle and straight away took advantage of a corner kick in the opening minutes.  Michael McCabe served a well driven ball into the six yard box that was met with ferocity by sixth grader Artur Przybyla and directed into the back of the net for the only score of the game.  While Hazlet chased the game for nearly its entirety the Huskies were galvanized in their efforts to maintain and hold onto a narrow lead, getting strong performances in the middle from McCabe and Przybyla while Derek Busch and Lukas Mandeville muscled up to match the Hazlet intensity and were stalwarts in defense.  Gavin Dember played an inspired outside half, creating several chances coming off the bench, while newcomers Edward Gleason and Rolando Persons played with grit and determination. Gavin Veres recorded the clean sheet while making a sparkling highlight reel save that deflected off the crossbar, down and off his knee to safety, preserving the Husky narrow margin. With his scalp on their belt the Huskies look poised to finish the season strong with hopes of climbing up the table. Matawan looks to stay hot when they travel to Holmdel on Tuesday. 

HOLMDEL 10/19 AWAY

 Your beloved Huskies (4-3) won their third game in a row, second consecutively by a 1-0 scoreline, when they traveled to Holmdel and defeated the Hornets on a brisk fall afternoon.  During the first half the Huskies struggled to maintain possession of the ball but found their opportunities on the counterattack.  Matawan broke the deadlock early in the second half when they strung together several passes linking creatively through the midfield, outside half Derek Busch chipped a ball into the box where Michael McCabe settled it and tucked it neatly into the corner of the net, celebrating what would eventually be the game winner.  Gavin Veres made another highlight reel save when he turned away a close range shot during a melee inside the six yard box securing his second consecutive clean sheet.  Eighth graders Gavin Heyward, Trevor Cole, and Sean Sobocinski turned in spirited performances.  The Huskies prepare for their biggest challenge of the season when they will travel to Thompson for a clash with the unbeaten Middletown squad.  

THOMPSON 10/21 AWAY

 The Huskies (4-4) fell to undefeated Thompson by a score of 3-0. A scoreline which was indicative of a more competitive contest than one might expect. Scoreless at the half, Matawan played a tight, compact defense not allowing many quality chances, frustrating Thompson.  Matawan would eventually surrender two sparkling free kicks from 18 and 22 yards respectively, and a late goal when they had pushed numbers forward. Gavin Veres made several key saves while Derek Busch and Michael McCabe showed strong character and leadership in the defeat. 

BAYSHORE 10/25 HOME

Your beloved Huskies (5-4) bounced back after a tough loss by knocking off a stingy Bayshore team by a score of 1-0.  Michael McCabe broke free from his central midfield position and blasted a low hard driven bouncing shot that found the corner of the goal from about twenty yards out for the only score of the game.  Rolando Person and Gavin Heyward played tough defense and were dominant forces in challenging for and winning 50/50 balls.  Lukas Mandeville continued to develop his hard nose for the  defensive game while Gavin Veres collected the clean sheet.