Notre Dame’s Hoenisch is our CVC Player of the Year
With the coronavirus pandemic beginning to get behind us, Colonial Valley Conference boys’ soccer teams returned to a full slate of games this fall and the results were rather successful.
Eight of the league’s 14 teams finished with winning records. Seven of those eight achieved double-digit victories.
Notre Dame High had one of the most impressive campaigns in going 18-3-2, advancing to the NJSIAA Non-Public A South final before falling to state runner-up Christian Brothers Academy, 5-4. The Irish, who shared the Colonial Division crown with Princeton, also played the Pennington School to a scoreless tie in the Mercer County Tournament final before dropping a penalty-kick shootout, 4-2, for the trophy.
Hopewell Valley produced the most wins, going 19-5, while also winning the Valley Division before surging to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III title.
Here is a look at some of this season’s top CVC performers:
AIDEN HOENISCH, NOTRE DAME » A year ago, Aiden Hoenisch was asked to help ND’s defense, so he had just one assist to show for the switch. Talented wherever he was needed on the field, Hoenisch showed that with a breakout year in which he led the Colonial Valley Conference in goals (23), assists (22) and points (68) as a senior. His speed, awareness and ball skills were a major part of what made Hoenisch the obvious choice as The Trentonian’s All-CVC Player of the Year. CHASE ROTTEVEEL, LAWRENCE » After missing the first month of the season, this 6-foot-2 senior returned to his spot in net and held opponents at bay as if he’d been there all along. With impressive help from junior Fredy Canas in his absence, the Cardinals’ goalkeepers combined on a league-best 10 shutouts. Rotteveel limited the opposition to 13 goals in 13 games to help Lawrence finish 10-9-2. CARL BIRGE, PRINCETON » This 5-foot-11 senior may be better known as the catcher for the Tigers’ baseball team, but this fall he proved to be just as good and athletic a backstop for the soccer team. Birge only allowed 17 goals in 17 games, while posting nine shutouts.
LIAM MACDONALD, STEINERT » The Spartans’ senior sweeper had to be one of the fittest players in the CVC because he was continually needed to be at the front and back of the attack. Besides harassing opposing teams’ top scorers, MacDonald found time to lead Steinert with 10 goals this fall, while also passing for three assists.
JAMES WATSON, NOTRE DAME » In all of his years with the Irish’s varsity, this senior fullback has always been a steadying influence on the club’s defense, none more so than this season when ND needed a back line as strong as its powerful offense. With University of Delaware-bound Watson standing as the last line in front of senior goalkeeper Ethan Bazydola, Notre Dame was able to post nine shutouts. He also stepped forward to provide three goals and seven assists. BRENO AZEVEDO, PRINCETON » When it comes to defense, the Tigers’ always pride themselves on having one of the best. This senior back helped Princeton match Notre Dame with only three games in which it did not allow one goal or less this season. Azevedo and Co. may have worked a little harder (or at least longer) than most since they took eight games to overtime on the way to an 11-2-5 finish. When needed to step into the offense, Azevedo provided three goals and two assists. MYLES RYAN, NOTRE DAME » Since transferring in from Princeton High as a sophomore, Ryan helped strengthen the Irish’s defense, so it could hold teams to similar numbers. This crafty senior marking back joined James Watson in helping prepare an otherwise young backfield for the future by limiting opponents to 22 goals in 23 games (five of which came in their last game against CBA). Ryan also chipped in five goals and three assists. AUSTIN WARREN, HOPEWELL VALLEY » This up-and-coming junior back helped solidify the Bulldogs’ defense over the last month when it won 13 of 15 games. Included in that run were four of Hopewell’s six shutouts. Warren also helped the offense with two goals and six assists.
SEAN SMITH, ROBBINSVILLE » Smith was the CVC’s second most dangerous scorer from the back line behind MacDonald. This junior finished second on his team with nine goals, many on sharp head balls. He also helped the Ravens’ young squad post three shutouts and go 8-7-1.
CHRIS HINES, NOTRE DAME » Whether needed to help on offense or defense at his midfield position, this lanky senior’s ballcontrol skills frustrated opposing teams. Hines became a nice complement to the Irish’s already daunting attack by adding three goals and six assists.
OWEN DEMING, PRINCETON » When not making life tough on opposing offenses, this tall senior midfielder proved dangerous. Though Deming only had three goals this season, two of those came in a late, come-from-behind, 4-3 OT win over Notre Dame, which really opened people’s eyes. Deming had the tying and winning goals in that contest.
KYLE MASON, HOPEWELL VALLEY » This senior played wherever he was needed in the midfield to help head coach Ed Gola’s team go as far as it could. This year, that meant a little more defensive help, but Mason still managed to turn in seven goals and eight assists to help the Bulldogs capture a sectional crown.
OWEN BARLOW, NOTRE DAME » With a surname synonymous with Mercer County midfield play, Owen Barlow played with the desire which made his cousin Jim (Princeton University’s men’s soccer coach) so tough three decades ago. Though he often seemed like a fifth fullback, Owen Barlow would slide into the attack with ease, adding four goals and four assists for a team that scored 110 times this fall.
ALEX TAGLIARENI, HOPEWELL VALLEY » Alex Tagliareni was half of one of the most dangerous twin attacks in the county. While he spent most of the season coming forward from the midfield, Alex Tagliareni pushed his way into the top-three producers in the CVC with 21 goals and 11 assists, as well as into the top-five producers in the area with his 53 points. He stepped up big time for the Bulldogs when his twin brother, Nick, the team’s leading scorer, suffered a season-ending injury in the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.
KYLE ALLEN, NOTRE DAME » Most teams are lucky to one or two big scorers in a season. Notre Dame boys’ soccer had four of the top six in the CVC. Allen was the third on that list and arguably as dangerous as any of them. His 19 goals and 50 total points were fifthbest in the CVC and seventh-best in the area. Allen’s 12 assists tied him for fifth in the CVC and tied him for eighth in the area.
NICO CARUSONE, PRINCETON » Like many of the Tigers’ great players through the years, Carusone showed an ability to play wherever he was needed to help the team. This season, he became a bigger part of the offense, providing 11 goals (second on the squad) and a team-leading eight assists. His powerfully accurate foot and constant motion made him dangerous everywhere on the pitch. DANNY BENSCH, NOTRE DAME » Over the last three seasons, Bensch has been the ND player opposing defenses knew they needed to stop, yet that never really happened. After leading the Irish in scoring the last two seasons, the senior forward scored 20 more this year to give him 57 goals on his career. He added 12 assists this season (doubling his junior year total) to help spread the wealth.
NICK TAGLIARENI, HOPEWELL VALLEY » Hard work paid off twofold for the Bulldogs as the Tagliareni twins had nearly identical senior seasons to cap their careers. Up top, Nick Tagliareni became Hopewell’s leader in both goals (22) and assists (16), more than four times as many goals as he had as a junior and more than five times as many assists as he had in the same span. His brother, Alex, had similar increases, making it easy to understand why their team led the area in victories, plus won a sectional title.
MATT COBURN, WW-P SOUTH » After his school district chose not to play CVC soccer in 2020, it was unclear what to expect from West Windsor-Plainsboro High South in its first season under Coburn. What the Pirates got was a campaign as spirited as their new head coach in going 11-8-3, a ride which did not end until WW-P South reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Tournament. For his efforts, Coburn was chosen as one of The Trentonian’s All-CVC Coaches of the Year. BRYAN FISHER, NOTRE DAME » Fisher moved over from WW-P South after 11 seasons and proved to be just what the Irish seniors needed to have a memorable final campaign, while also setting a standard for the future. Other teams also had good years, but ND was clearly the league’s best as it showed in playing Pennington to a 0-0 tie in the Mercer County Tournament championship game and upsetting Pingry on the road, 2-1 in overtime, in the NJSIAA NonPublic A South semifinals. For his efforts, Fisher was chosen as one of The Trentonian’s All-CVC Coaches of the Year.