The boys’ soccer team will kick off playoffs for CHS when they take on Willingboro today at home in the first round of NJSIAA playoffs. With a 9-8-1 record, the Pirates will take on the Chimeras who are 7-6-1 and second in their division behind Doane Academy.
After graduating 12 seniors at the end of last season, the young team is in a rebuilding phase. Having lost a lot of seniors, including standouts like Christian Palmer, Will Frasso, Dean Karch, RJ Drayer, Aidan Quinn-Wright, and Josh Pereira, this year’s team has required new leaders to step up.
Head Coach Matthew Digney reflects on the rebuilding of the team throughout the season.
“That is the toughest part. I mean every year it is somewhat of a rebuild,” Digney said. “We graduated a good senior class, but I think the underclassmen understand it’s their turn to be the new leaders. A lot of these guys have done a nice job stepping up and filling that role being a team leader.”
This year’s captains, seniors Michael Pappas and Timothy Morrell, lead by example. Having been a three-year player on the team, Pappas has gained a lot of experience on the field. Last season he contributed 22 points with eight goals and six assists.
“Being a leader is something that is very important to me, it means I have led not only through my voice but my actions,” Pappas said.
In addition to valuing leadership, Coach Digney also attributes the team’s success to its strong camaraderie.
“The team in general is a good hardworking team. I just enjoy their company. We are a team but also a good group. We are friends, kind of like a family-like setting,” Digney said. “We go through the good and the bad together.”
The team plans to leave everything on the field during playoffs. With the ultimate goal of winning the state championship, the boys will need to overcome their three-game skid coming into playoffs. With tough losses against Cherry Hill East, Cherokee, and Robbinsville, the boys are looking to rival their mid-season success when they went on two separate three-game winning streaks.
One of those winning streaks included knocking off Palmyra (4-1) who had been on a seven-game win streak. Junior goalie Luke Rittler has been an outstanding player for the Pirates, recording 115 saves so far this season in comparison to his 87 saves last season.
Looking ahead to this afternoon’s playoff game, Morrell said he is determined to win it.
“Knowing this is my last season I am giving it all that I have and I’m focused on winning playoff games,” Morrell said.
Pappas, who leads the team in goals, knows it could be his last chance to help his team succeed.
“I want to win no matter what,” Pappas said. “If it’s my first year or my last, I want to help the team succeed.”
Having finished second in the division behind Delran, the Pirates will look to turn around their current losing streak at today’s first-round play-off game starting at 3 p.m.
