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JACKSON – The Jaguars graduated just two seniors from last year’s team that captured the outright Class A South championship and earned a trip to the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time in five years.
However, a disappointing 2-1 loss to No. 8 seed Atlantic City in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV quarterfinals as the No. 1 seed ended the season on a sour note.
With eight starters back from last year’s team, the Jaguars (12-1) have already captured the Class A South championship and were awarded the No. 2 seed and first-round bye in the Shore Conference Tournament this season. And with the post season already in full gear, Jackson Memorial is in position to rectify last year’s early exit from the states.
After scoring 18 goals with four assists a year ago, second-team All-Shore junior forward Dan Russo is back at it this season finding the back of the net 16 times along with nine assists to lead the team. His 16 goals this season gives him 41 goals for his career after netting 25 goals in his first two seasons.
Senior midfielder Joe Schlageter teamed up with Russo last season to combine for 25 of the 49 goals scored, with Schlageter netting seven goals with seven assists. This season, he’s second on the team in goals scored with seven and has assisted on six others.
Joining Schlageter in the midfield are seniors Ben Patti (3 goals, 5 assists) and Logan Lewis (2 goals) and juniors Ed Jacoby (1 goal, 2 assists) and Tyler Howlett. All four were big contributors last season and have brought a lot of experience to the table at that position this season.
Newcomers Richard Chan (2 goals), Gianluca Gruosso (3 goals, 1 assist) and Andrew Walenty (3 goals, 1 assist) have been solid contributors in the middle of the field as well.
Senior forward Andrew Keating, who netted four goals and an assist last season, helps out Russo up top, along with senior newcomer Basel Shousa (1 goal) and freshmen Steve Bado (2 goals, 2 assists) and Evan Walenty (1 goal).
Two All-Division selections – Ben Schaak and Ron Bantang – head up a stellar back-line that has allowed just eight goals in 13 games this season, including seven shutouts.
Schaak developed into a two-way threat at center-back after scoring four goals a year ago and so far this season he’s netted six goals with six assists. Bantang is a shutdown defender that takes a lot of the heat off of second-team All-Shore goalie Nick Kinzler, who after turning away whopping 139 shots on goal a year ago, has been stellar in the nets again this season with 38 saves and those seven shutouts.
Juniors Connor Lucas and Chase Olegarz both are back from last season and playing with the same intensity as a year ago, giving the Jaguars one of the top blue-chip defenses in the Shore.
Newcomers Frank Savarise, Steve Slusak and Anthony Mantello have chipped in as defenders when called on.
In Wednesday’s Shore Conference Tournament round of 16, the Jaguars easily dispensed of No. 18 seed Lacey, 3-0. Russo scored twice and Schlageter added one goal with Lucas, Schnaak and Gruosso chipping in with an assist apiece.
Jackson now moves on to the quarterfinals and will play seventh-seeded Manalapan (8-5-2), who held off No. 23 seed Colts Neck 3-2 to advance.
UPDATE: The Jaguars (13-1) punched their ticket into the semifinals with a 3-1 victory over the Braves. Schlageter scored two goals and assisted on a Russo goal to lead the Jaguars. Russo also assisted on one of Schlagerter’s two goals. Jackson now faces third-seeded CBA in the first semifinal on Monday night in Point Boro.
