LAWRENCE TWP. — Nick Angiolino will do whatever it takes to help the Notre Dame High varsity boys’ soccer team find its way.
So when, in the absence of injured senior fullback Jayce Palumbo, the Irish saw a two-goal halftime lead disappear against Toms River North Saturday at Mike Perone Field, Angiolino switched himself from the midfield into the backfield to make sure the defense settled.
The move worked, but ND’s offense could not cash in on another tally, leaving head coach Bryan Fisher’s club with a 2-2 tie after two 10-minute overtime sessions.
“We were missing Jayce, so we needed to make some adjustments,” Angiolino said. “So I dropped back, and (junior) Felipe Samuel moved back into the midfield. I thought it brought confidence to our defense and confidence to our team.”
As the settling force for the locals, Angiolino helped Notre Dame (11-1-2) come away with a second tie this week. At least, they did not lose, yet Angiolino and Co. felt they should have kept the hammer down against a Mariners’ club that is 4-6-5.
The home team opened a 2-0 lead when senior forward/midfielder Luca Ercolano knocked in a midfield lead from senior back Riley Miracola with 17:36 left in the first half. Then, just before halftime, senior forward/midfielder Kole Feltes beat the buzzer with another shot off a long lead from Samuel to put Toms River North in a two-goal hole.
The visitors from the Shore Conference did not flinch.
With junior ’keeper Gavin Stryker stopping 15 shots on the day, the Mariners found the confidence they needed behind Stryker’s long goal kicks. First, Stryker punted to junior forward Manuele Lubrano, who shot inside the post for his team’s first goal two minutes after intermission.
Then, with 15:35 left in regulation, Stryker led Josh Girtain for his first varsity goal on a counterattack after ND made another big push.
“We had chances. We just didn’t connect,” said Angiolino, who dropped back after the tying tally to make sure there were no more cracks in the Irish’s lining. Junior goalkeeper Anthony Merluse made eight saves to give Notre Dame its second tie at Perone Field this week after a 1-1 deadlock with Princeton High Tuesday.
“We have to take the rest of this weekend to learn and reflect,” Angiolino said. “I’m really excited about what lies ahead.”
That path includes tough games with West Windsor-Plainsboro South and Steinert this week as the Colonial Valley Conference Tournament and New Jersey State Interscholastic Tournament get nearer.
“As a senior, I feel I have more accountability for the team, especially in a situation like today,” said Angiolino, who gives the Irish the leadership they need through the season’s tough stretches.
Toms River N. (4-6-5) 0 2 0 0 — 2
Notre Dame (11-1-2) 2 0 0 0 — 2
Goals: Lubrano, Girtain (TRN), Ercolano, Feltes (ND); Assists: Stryker 2 (TRN), Miracola, Samuel (ND).
Shots: 10 (TRN), 17 (ND); Saves: Stryker 15 (TRN), Merluse 8 (ND).
