Haledon Wins First NJSL Summer League

07/26/2005 (Wayne, NJ)

Playing in the first ever NJSL Summer League, a combined over 30 team of players from the Haledon Open and O-30 teams took home the trophy Tuesday night after a grueling battle with Ramsey Rangers which ended up going to a penalty kick shootout.

Haledon sailed through the season, finishing undefeated, and outscoring the opposition 20-5. The team tied Ramsey in the regular season, and again in the championship. The team received goals from Mike Mete, Ken Kneis, Omar Arango, Jon Katz, and Dennis Oriwa (sorry if I missed other scorers.)

Thank you to Sportsfriends for being a gracious host, and making sure we had cold beer and hot pizza after the game. Thanks also to the other teams in the tournament, the ref, and the NJSL.

The results:
Oakland 3-0
Montgomery 4-0
Sportfreunde 1-0
Ramsey 1-1
Waldwick 3-1
Waldwick 3-0 (Playoff)
Oakland 3-1 (Playoff)
Ramsey 2-2 (Championship 3-2 Penalties)

Top Row (l-r) Mike Shale, Scott Shappell, Ken Kneis, Ian McCormick, Gregg Rehberger, Brad Smith, Matt Huebner, Jon Katz, Dennis Oriwa
Bottom Row: Mark DeVito, Carlos Estrella, Rod Hausser, Mike Mete, Matt Kastner, Frank Piccininni, Omar Arango, Steve Lagano
(Not Pictured: Mike Rehberger)

Haledon Battles Parsippany to Tie

10/23/2005 (Haledon, NJ)

Haledon played some of its best soccer of the year in the first half, but was lethargic in the second and wasn't able to hold off a determined Parsippany team who scored a goal late to salvage a 4-4 tie.

Haledon started off the scoring early, when a Brett Weiss cross was smartly handle and tucked away by Werner Mashig. Then Parsippany managed to put up two goals to take the lead. A short while later, Frank Piccininni tied it up when he controlled the ball from twenty yards out, put a ball towards the upper right corner that the keeper couldn't handle and found the back of the net. A short while later, Giancarlo Lepore blasted in a Piccininni corner kick from six yards out to put the home team ahead 3-2.

It looked like Haledon might blow the game wide open when Jon Katz finished a Steve Robinson shot that bounce off the keeper less than ten minutes into the second half to make it 4-2. Parsippany kept fighting and Haledon seemed to lose steam and soon found themselves up only 4-3. Then with only a few minutes before the whistle blew (but the 51st minute of the second half) a Parsippany defender took the ball down the field unchallenged, and knocked in an unlikely toe ball from thirty yards out for the tie.

Haledon Wins Big Again to Start 2-0

09/25/2005 (Haledon, NJ)

Haledon again showed offense firepower this week, and spread the wealth around as the team won 6-1 over a classy Nevada Smith's team. Six different players notched goals.

The game got off to a good start for the home team when fifteen minutes in, a handball on the visitor's goalkeeper was called just outside the box. Frank Piccininni stepped up, and place the kick inside the left panel out of reach of the keeper. Fifteen minutes later, Dennis Oriwa saved a ball from going out along the Nevada Smith's goal line, and made a cross that Brett Weiss was able to volley home. A short while later, a Haledon takedown just inside their box resulted in a penalty kick that brought Nevada within one, which is where it stayed at the midway point.

In the second half Haledon came out firing. Werner Mashig (Lightining) took a Brad Smith ball that careened off several defenders, calmly brought it across the middle and made a beautiful shot to the lower right corner of the goal. A few minutes later, Dennis Oriwa (Thunder) stole a ball and dribble across the middle before making a great left footed shot to the lower left.

Ten minutes later, Scott Shappell passed to a wide open Jon Katz, whose shot was save by the visiting keeper, right to the feet of Brad Smith who tucked it into the goal. Perhaps the highlight goal was saved for last, as a Brett Weiss cross was finished with a diving header from Steve Robinson as he came across from twelve yards out.

Click here to see game pics

Haledon Tops Pamir in First Game

09/18/2005 (Haledon, NJ)

Haledon started the Fall season off right, by dismantling NJSL newcomer Pamir 7-1. Seven different Haledon players scored in the game, and Frank Piccininni led the charge with a goal and four assists.

Haledon came out strong, and was all over Pamir in the first 20 minutes. Then sweeper Mike Shale cleared the ball from 30 yards out, which immediately ricocheted off a Pamir player, and into the net. He did not earn the assist.

Later in the half, although Haledon had some nice stuff working at times, they weren't able to put one in until a nice combination which ended with Werner Mashig passing to Piccininni who tucked the ball away to even the game up. The score was tied 1-1 at the half.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Dennis Oriwa finished a volley off a pass from Piccininni for what would be the game winner. So the deadly combo of "Thunder and Lightning" as Mashig dubbed themselves, both had their hands in the first two goals. A short while later, Scott Shappell put away a rebound coming off of Piccininni's foot from 12 yards out. Five minutes later, Mark Wright headed a corner kick from Piccininni down and into the goal.

Then, in the last ten minutes, a flurry of goals from Steve Robinson (Giancarlo Lepore), Mashig (Lightning) from Lepore again, and Matt Huebner rounding out the scoring on a pass from Piccininni again.

Click here to see game pics