The Montclair boys soccer team has hit a couple of bumps in the road the last few years when it has come to the state and county tournaments.
Seton Hall Prep and Kearny have been nemeses for the Mounties program, keeping them from bringing home more county and state tournament championships.
Montclair head coach Toure Weaver is excited going into the 2023 fall campaign when they travel to Millburn on Thursday (Sept 7 at 4 p.m.).
In the early start of the season, the Mounties have an interesting back-to-back where they host Seton Hall Prep (Sept. 14, 4 p.m.) and Montclair Kimberley (Sept. 18, 4 p.m.) in a battle of the rivals.
“We feel like we have a ton of talent this year,” said Weaver. “The talent on this team can bring home multiple pieces of hardware.”
Weaver knows the season will not be determined in the opener against Millburn or early in Fall 2023. The emphasis is on defense.
“To achieve the goals we have set, we need to know that it’s a long season and there will be turbulence,” the Montclair coach said. “It’s about how we react and respond to those difficult times. We also want to reestablish who we are defensively. I know the guys are hungry and determined to have lower goals against this year.”
Weaver is optimistic that he can start any of the top 15 on his team and that five more can contribute. “This creates competition in every practice we have and players trying to prove themselves, which I think leads to us building a competitive nature every day,” added Weaver.
With the depth this season, Montclair is looking to improve on its trips through the Essex County and state tournaments.
Last season, the Mounties, who were 7-6-2 in 2022, lost to Livingston, 1-0, in the county tournament quarterfinals and 3-0 at Kearny in the first round of the North 1 Group 4 state tournament. Montclair will look to win its first ECT title since 2018 and state title since 2020.
“The guys have spoken internally and they know what they want to achieve,” said Weaver. “Each day, we know there is only one game ahead of us. That’s our focus as we move forward. We need to step on the field every game and realize what it takes to win.”
Part of the depth will be the number of players who can score. That includes senior Erol Gumus, senior Tomer Salamon, senior Alex Abrahams, senior Sebastion Jackson, junior Julian Cauvin, junior Cole Caviness, senior Gibson Adams, junior Nicolas Carrillo and junior Jacob Price. Other players who saw extensive playing time last season on the pitch included senior Jacob Bernstein and Derek Wilks Lacey.
Salamon is the top player returning from last season as an All-Super Essex Conference American second-team player who had seven goals.
“He brings a ton of experience which will be instrumental in those really difficult moments in a game and during the season,” said Weaver about the senior who has started since he was a sophomore. “I think he has just become a more mature soccer player and person. He is very clean and crisp on the ball and can help our team play the style that we want.”
After Salamon, the next top player back for 2023 is Adams, who was part of the All-SEC American honorable mention list in 2022. Adams had three goals and four assists last season. “Gibby is a gamer,” said Weaver. “He loves to compete and is so versatile in what he brings to the team. He defends with passion. He knocks the ball around with perfect weight behind the ball, good vision, composed, and dangerous when around the opposing team’s goal.”
In addition to Salamon and Adams, the Mounties have senior Liam Thatcher, who made 38 saves last season, returning in the nets.
“Since his sophomore year, I like the confidence he brings to the field,” said Weaver. “One of his best attributes is his communication during the flow of the game. He is always talking with his players about positioning and what to be aware of. He has gotten better in the air and is starting to dominate the 18-yard box.”
Along with the matches against Seton Hall Prep and Montclair Kimberley, the other top matches will come at West Orange (Sept. 22, 4 p.m.) and at Newark East Side (Sept. 28, 4 p.m.). Both contests could determine the winner of the SEC American Division.
Montclair Boys Soccer Schedule
(Matches at 4 p.m. unless noted)
- Sept. 7 at Millburn
- Sept. 9 at South Plainfield, 11 a.m.
- Sept. 12 West Essex
- Sept. 14 Seton Hall Prep
- Sept. 18 at MKA
- Sept. 20 Verona
- Sept. 22 at West Orange
- Sept. 26 at Cedar Grove
- Sept. 28 at East Side
- Sept. 30 Columbia, 10 a.m.
- Oct. 3 at Livington
- Oct. 5 Newark Academy
- Oct. 7 Orange
- Oct. 9 Essex County Tournament, TBD
- Oct. 11 Essex County Tournament, TBD
- Oct. 13 Essex County Tournament, TBD
- Oct. 17 Essex County Tournament, TBD
- Oct. 24 at St. Benedict’s
- Oct. 27 State tournament, TBD