Howell’s Defense Leading The Way For Young Rebels By Mike Ready

HOWELL – The Rebels have won five games in a row since their 5-1 loss to Class A North rival Freehold Township a couple of weeks ago to push their season record to 7-2 and 4-1 in the division.

The Rebels’ two losses this season have been against No. 4 Southern and No. 3 Freehold Township.

A year ago Howell finished third in the division and reached the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals while setting the program record for wins in the season when they went 14-5 and 4-3 in the A North.

However, entering this season Howell – currently ranked sixth in the APP Top 10 – was tasked with replacing its top three scorers from a year ago including midfielder Nico Lorenzo (33 goals, 15 assists) and attackmen Ryan Damelio (46 goals, 15 assists) and Drew Bukowiec (29 goals, 22 assists).

Not an easy chore, but what the Rebels did bring back – one of the top goaltenders in the Shore and an All-Division defenseman – is a defensive-minded team with an opportunistic offense that scores enough to keep them in the mix for the A North crown and a postseason run.

“We knew going into the year that the defense was the side of the ball we were most experienced on,” said Howell head coach Anthony Bonjavanni. “I think we’re playing better than we had even hoped or expected. Our defense is only allowing close to four goals a game and we’re thrilled with that and think it’s something we can build on. Being we’re so young, our defense helps us out on the offensive side of the ball so we can be a little more patient and guys don’t really have to play outside themselves and just stick to the things we do best.”

The defense, led by 2017 senior All-Division defensemen Braedon Baldwin and  Sean Mylod, is allowing just over four goals a game and in its last five games has given up a mere 12 goals. They are joined in the backfield by sophomore Thomas Damelio, junior Ernie Onesti and freshman Theo Deberghes.

“Braedon and Sean Mylod have both been huge,” said Bonjavanni. “Those two right now are probably playing the best lacrosse of their careers and they’re definitely kind of leading the way for us; they’ve been rocks for us. We think both of them are game changers. Braedon has the ability to take the top attackman generally out of the game and Sean does really the same thing at the midfield. They just spark so much offense taking the ball away in the middle of the field and sparking transition for us. Those two kids we’re really relying on and they’ve been great for us so far.”

Yet a defense isn’t complete without a goalie that can get the job done and Howell senior goalie Nick Roberto definitely fits the bill. A 2017 All-Division selection when he made 162 saves and averaged just over seven goals a game, Roberto has been unflappable in goal for the Rebels.  

“Nick’s a three-year starter for us and it’s kind of the same thing,” Bonjavanni said. “Going into the year we knew if we were going to have a good year that these guys were going to have to play like three-year starters. Nick’s been very strong in goal. He clears the ball exceptionally well, he leads very well and kind of sticks to the script.”

Offensively the Rebels are young with no one player dominating the way last year’s big three could take over games.

“It’s been nice actually on the offensive end, it seems like every game its one or two different guys having a good game,” said Bonjavanni. “In years past we’ve obviously had some first-team all-caliber type talent but I don’t know that we have that this year in all honesty. It’s been fun because we’re watching kids grow up and see different guys step up when their number is called. We’ve been getting contributions up and down the roster on the offensive side.”

Joey Sorrentino, Logan Dennison and James Fay are three attackmen Bonjavanni singled out for their play so far this season.

“Joey is a junior for us who has taken on a much heavier role for us this year as a starter,” Bonjavanni said. “Logan Dennison is a sophomore who moved from midfield last year as a freshman to attackman this year and then our freshman James Fey, who was banged up the last few games, scored three goals against Colts Neck in his first game back and we’re definitely glad to have him back.”

Senior Pat Handy, junior Jared Badillo and sophomores Vaughn Meehan and Chase Burke are midfielders that have impressed Bonjavanni and are part of that group of players that can step up at any given moment.

“Not everything Pat does stands out on the stat sheet but Pat does a lot for us,” said Bonjavanni. “He’s a defensive midfielder that kind of helps us set the tone a little bit in the middle of the field. Pat’s been a big presence in the midfield for us as well as Vaughn Meehan and Jared Badillo. Jared’s kind of assumed that top offensive midfield position for us as a junior and he’s doing some really good things.”

As Bonjavanni indicated, the Rebels’ scoring is really spread out: Handy (7 goals, 2 assist), Badillo (5 goals, 7 assists), Sorrentino (8 goals, 5 assists), Fay (6 goals, 6 assists), Dennison (10 goals, 6 assists), Burke (7 goals, 3 assist) and Meehan (4 goals) have all made their presence felt.

“The one thing you notice if you’ve seen us play this year is our guys really support each other,” Bonjavanni said. “We’re trying to be selfless and understand team offense. Guys are amped up for one and other.”

Howell had been involved in three one-goal games and one two-goal game this season so it hasn’t been all that easy for the Rebels.

“Something our kids are hearing every day is that anyone can beat anyone at any given time, so you got to have a good day at practice and follow that up with a good game the next day,” said Bonjavanni. “We’re not good enough to coast and we know we’re not. We’ve been in tight, low scoring games all season and our kids are used to it and the fact we’ve been in these competitive game will only help us. We think we’re better now than when we were down at Southern in game one and we hope we’re even better in three or four weeks come playoff time. Our goal right now is to take care of business in the regular season to put us in position to host a first-round game in the SCT and see what happens after that.”

 

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