NHS boys’ soccer team hopes to make noise in challenging SEC this season

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports editor
To fourth-year head coach Marcellino Marra, the Nutley High School boys’ varsity soccer team has the necessary senior experience that will prove vital in the daunting Super Essex Conference.
With the help of those seniors, the Raiders enjoyed a terrific off-season, winning the Montclair State University Summer League championship. The success continued in the preseason as the Raiders won their first three scrimmages by a combined 9-1 score, beating Bergen Tech, 2-0; Fair Lawn, 2-1; and Teaneck, 5-0.
The key seniors for the Raiders are goalie Matt Dudley; defenders Juan Matallana; Robert Fredericks and Shane Byrnes; midfielders Bryan Salazar and Adam Tanimura and forwards Tom Mantone and Tom Tolve.
“In the SEC, the teams are very close, skill-wise. What wins in the SEC is experience and organization,” said Marra. “These eight seniors really understand what it takes to win in the SEC and we are really going to count on those guys for leadership.”
Dudley emerged as a standout goalie, earning third-team All-Group 3 state honors last season, posting nine shutouts to lead the Raiders to a 9-8-2 record. Marra said several colleges have expressed serious interest in Dudley.
“We are going to count on him to mind the net,” said Marra. “If teams can’t score, they can’t win.”
Providing support on the defensive unit are Fredericks and Byrnes at the sweeper and stopper positions, respectively.
Salazar, who Marra calls a “workhorse,” also will help out on defense from the midfield position.
The two Toms will lead the offensive attack. Tolve was the team’s second-leading scorer last season with nine goals to garner second-team all-league honors.
The Raiders kick off the season Sept. 13 at Newark Tech.
The key for the Raiders is to get off to a strong start, which may prove challenging as four of the first five games are on the road. Last season, the team began 2-4-2 before turning things around.
The Raiders also have to deal with SEC powers Seton Hall Prep and Millburn, which both shared the Essex County Tournament title last season, with Millburn claiming its third straight ECT crown. Millburn also won its Group 3 sectional title, while SHP went on to win the sectional and state Non-Public A crowns and is ranked No. 2 in the nation entering this season.
“The objective for us this year is to definitely click earlier,” said Marra. “I think with the large number of seniors, it’s possible.”