CBA LIVING UP TO HEFTY EXPECTATIONS By Mike Ready

 LINCROFT – Two years ago, Christian Brothers Academy captured the NJSIAA Non-Public A championship winning 24 games and finishing No. 1 in the final NJ.com boys soccer rankings.

 Losing all but one starter from that team due to graduation, last season was earmarked as a developmental year. Instead, the Colts won 20 games and finished ranked 10th in New Jersey and second in the Shore while reaching the Non-Public A final for the third year in a row before falling to Delbarton, who ended the season undefeated and ranked No. 1.  

 With seven starters and a considerable number of reserves back from last year’s squad, the Colts (13-3, 6-1) are currently ranked second in the Shore Conference and ninth in the state as the postseason kicks into high gear.

 First-team All-Shore selection Dom Bellomo heads up the pack of returners after scoring nine goals with five assists a year ago. The senior midfielder has continued his stellar play this season, leading the team with seven goals along with three assists.

 Seniors Joe Lozowski and Charlie Daly join Bellomo in the midfield after garnering All-Division honors last season and the talented duo haven’t missed a beat this season.

 After scoring six and seven goals, respectively, a year ago, Lozowski and Daly both have hit the back of the net four times this season with Lozowski adding a team-high six assists. Newcomer Michael Casper has been a nice addition in the midfield and the junior has added two goals and two assists so far this season.

 Junior forward Luke Pascarella has upped his game this season after a breakout sophomore campaign which saw him score six goals along with four assists. So far this season the gifted striker has exploded for 10 goals with two assists.

 Joining Pascarella up top is senior forward Jack Gill, who after scoring six goals and six assist a year ago, leads the team with 10 assists and has already matched his six goals from last season.

 The Colts graduated center back and current Monmouth University freshman Joe Askin, but second-team All-Shore selection Jack Hempstead (4 assists), senior  Liam Mulvey (1 assist), junior Connor Anderko (1 goal, 1 assist) and sophomore newcomer Jack Longo (1 goal) have picked up the slack in the backfield nicely, allowing just 17 goals in 16 games with four shutouts.

 Having to replace first-team All-Shore goalie Shane Keenan, now a freshman goalkeeper at UConn, was a concern entering the season, but senior Eric Wnorowski has made the transition seamless with his stellar play in goal while stopping 48 shots on goal this season with a 1.06 goals against average per game. Seniors Zach Giglio (2 goals, 1 assist), Dan DeSanctic (1 goal) and Patrick Doherty and junior Chris Vollrath (2 goals, 1 assist) have been solid contributors as well this season.

 As the third seed in the Shore Conference Tournament, the Colts  were awarded a first-round bye and on Wednesday, they held off No. 19 seed Lakewood, who made the match interesting scoring in the 70th minute to pull within one, for a 2-1 win advancing to the quarterfinals.

 They’ll now face eleventh-seeded Manasquan (10-5-1), who upset sixth-seeded Wall on penalty kicks to move on.

 UPDATE: The Colts (14-3) took care of upstart Manasquan, shutting out the Warriors, 2-0, Friday clinching a spot in the SCT semifinals for the third time in four years. Lozowski scored off a pass from Bellomo in the 39th minute and Pascarella buried a direct kick in the 53rd minute for the Colts. Wnorowski was again unflappable in picking up the shutout.

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