FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP OFF TO FAST START DESPITE HEAVY GRADUATION LOSSES By Mike Ready

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP – After going 15-7 and 10-4 (second place) in the rugged B North and beating CBA – ranked 10th in the state – last season, it appeared, at least on paper, that the Patriots would be in for a rebuilding year this season after graduating their top five scorers and No. 1 defenseman.

Gone are first-team All Shore midfielder Kevin Finn (15 goals, 8 assists), All Division forward Jon Finocchiaro (9 goals, 5 assists), All Division midfielder Matt Finocchiaro (2 goals, 13 assists), forward Alex Langa (10 goals, 1 assists), midfielder Nick Puglia (3 goals, 4 assists) and defenseman Josh Caga (3 goals, 3 assists).

However, for a perennial top 10 team such as Freehold Township – that does return seven players who found themselves in the scoring column a year ago – it’s always more of a reload than a rebuild for them when they’re up against a heavy attrition rate.

Those seven returning players, who will be expected to step up and carve out another winning season for the tradition-rich Patriots include senior midfielders Chris Orrico (1 goal, 3 assists) and Alonso Konstantinidis (1 goal, 6 assists), sophomore midfielder/defense man Mike Farrell (2 goals), sophomore midfielder/forward Zach Orrico (1 goal), junior midfielder/defenseman Bennett Messinger (1 goal), senior midfielder/defenseman Alex Janssen (1 goal, 2 assists) and junior defenseman Evan Sevino (1 goal).

One significant veteran who does return for the Patriots and will be counted on heavily is senior goalkeeper Evan Nastarowicz. The 6-foot-1 Nastarowicz recorded 106 saves a year ago with six shutouts and a stellar 1.27 goals against average. His backfield leadership alone will be priceless not to mention his prowess in the net.

So, even though most of their top guns have moved on, there’s still plenty of returning talent ready to pick up the slack as their early 2-1-1 record and No. 7 Shore Conference ranking suggests.

And, as is usually the case with the Patriots, you can expect to see some new faces in the lineup making a name for themselves as the season rolls on.

The Patriots have recorded two 15-win seasons (2015, 2017) in the last three years and in 2016 when they finished 12-7-1 and ranked third in the Shore Conference they advanced to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals for the third time in nine years.  So, as is usually the case, you can expect Freehold Township to be right in the mix again this season. That’s how it works for the Patriots.

Freehold Township opened the season with a hard fought 2-2 tie against preseason top 10 pick Toms River North. Newcomer Adam Havens, a rising sophomore, scored the first goal of the season for Freehold Township and Zach Orrico put them up 2-1 right before the half but the Mariners scored in the 60th minute for the equalizer.

Four days later they shutout Saint John Vianney, 5-0, to pick up their first win of the season behind goals from Zach Orrico, Konstantinidis, Havens and senior midfielders Joe Marchiano and Stephen Grady. Newcomer Cristian Corcione, a senior forward who’s a baseball standout with speed and athleticism, added three assists with Messenger and senior midfielder/defenseman Ben Parella adding one assist each.

Then in a huge early season B North game, the Patriots beat division rival Howell – ranked fifth in the Shore – 2-1, a see-saw battle. After a scoreless first half, Chris Orrico scored on a header in the 48th minute but 10 minutes later, Howell’s Pat Coughlin evened the score at one. Messinger scored the game winner in the 71st minute after sophomore Joe Lardaro blocked a clearing shot and found Messinger, who converted. Corcione picked up his fourth assist of the year in the win.

After beating Howell, the Patriots absorbed their first loss of the season, a 2-1 decision to A North foe Manalapan, who improved to 2-1-1. After the Braves scored first early in the first half to go up, 1-0, senior Richie Beggs converted off a set-up from Zach Orrico to pull the Patriots even. But the Rebels’ Ryan Caruso scored with 32 seconds left in the half and Howell held off the Patriots the entire second half for the win.

It’s still too early to predict just how this season will shake out for the Patriots with so many new faces now having significant roles. But early returns are positive and things should only get better as the season progresses and the team comes together.  

UPDATE: The Patriots got back on the winning track on Friday with a 2-1 double-overtime win over in-town rival and seventh-ranked Freehold to push its record to 3-1-1 overall and 2-1 in the A North. Messinger scored 2:53 into the second overtime off an assist from Havens for the golden goal.  Corcione put the Patriots on the board 3:39 into the second half.

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