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We want your school's results!
Please encourage your coach/scorekeeper/booster club member to send us all Freshman team results this fall
Hamilton resident Jack O'Donnell (31) dribbles ahead of Steinert's Joe Helmlinger during Tuesday's freshman soccer game between Notre Dame and the Spartans. O'Donnell anchored a solid defense in the Irish's 2-0 win, which snapped Steinert's nine-game unbeaten streak and put coach Jim "Jules" Giglio's coveted job at risk yet again (Photo by Mike Dill/purchase photos at michaeldillphotography.com).
Oct. 17 Boys Soccer
Steinert gets win and tie against township foes
Oct. 17: The Steinert boys JV soccer team ran its unbeaten streak to nine straight by taking a 3-1 win over Hamilton today and playing Nottingham to a 2-2 tie last week. Adrian "Duct Tape" Strama had two goals for the Spartans and Rich Kozlowski added one off a rebound, while Dominic Maruca had an assist.
Against Nottingham Dominic Maruca had a goal and the Spartans got an own goal. Steinert is now 9-2-1.
Oct. 13 Girls Soccer
Nini/Zoldi team up twice as Spartans nip WW-P South
Oct. 13: Red-hot Juliana Nini scored twice, giving her three goals in two games, to power Steinert's freshman girls soccer team to a 2-1 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South today. Both goals were assisted by Riley Zoldi as Steinert moved to 5-0-3.
Steinert's Joe Helmlinger could not be held back as he scored both goals in two 1-0 wins for the Steinert freshman boys soccer team (Photo by Mike Dill/purchase photos at michaeldillphotography.com).
Oct. 7/10 Boys Soccer
Steinert’s new favorite score: Helmlinger 1, Opponent 0
Once coach Jim “Spell Check” Giglio learned how to actually spell his name correctly, Joe Helmlinger rewarded his coach with a couple of game-winning goals.
The Steinert High freshman boys soccer team won two straight 1-0 games over West Windsor-Plainsboro North and Robbinsville, with Helmlinger scoring the lone goal in both games.
In the win over WWPN, Chris Hunt made 10 saves in goal and Mike “Indiana” Wherley cleared the ball off the goal line with three minutes left to preserve the game.
The win over Robbinsville was the seventh straight for Steinert (8-2) and was also the team’s sixth shutout. Hunt had a dozen more saves, getting his usual help from the stingy defense of left back Brandon Rivera, right back Pat Ferguson, stopper Brian Goldberg and sweeper Chance Eggert. Helmlinger’s goal was a header off a pass from Adrian “Duct Tape” Strama.
Oct. 5 Football
Northstars' roll continues with 46-0 win over WW-P South Oct. 5: The Nottingham High freshman football team rolled to a 4-6 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro South today, as Arthur Johnson continued his rushing assault with three touchdowns. He has scored seven TDs on offense and one on defense this year.
Jehvon Holman, Oscar Guerrier and McKenzie Nicolas also added touchdowns, while Trott Montina and Oscar Guerrier delivered devastating blocks from the fullback position to aid the rushing attack. Dan Stout, Mackenzie Henry, Christian Demeo, Ricardo Roman, Juan Corona, Zack Davis and Jeffery Dorvil opened up huge rushing lanes for the backs to exploit.
The defense, led by ‘Star of the Week Nekayle Whitaker, pounded the Pirates into parlay by not surrendering a single point. Trott Montina, Shaun Shumate, Zack Grehan, Jon Pierre-Louis and Batekaw Bedford helped the defensive surge. Anthony Forchi and Tyquan Young had key fumble recoveries caused by Thomas Schroth and Mitch Saul.
Oct. 7 Girls Soccer
Nini’s goal all it takes for Steinert to stay unbeaten
Oct. 5: Julianna Nini tallied the game’s lone goal to give Steinert a 1-0 victory over Notre Dame today. Mariah Greco notched the shutout in goal as Steinert moved to 4-0-3.
Morgan Johnston delivers the game's golden goal (at left) before being congratulated by a teammate after the Steinert freshman girls soccer team took a 1-0 overtime win over Robbinsville Wednesday (Photo by Mike Dill/purchase photos at michaeldillphotography.com)
Oct. 5 Girls Soccer
Johnston is golden as Spartans win again
Oct. 5: Morgan Johnston scored a golden goal in the first overtime to pace Steinert’s undefeated freshman girls soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Robbinsville today. Julia DeAngelo had the assist, while goalie Mariah Greco secured the shutout with strong help from her defense. The Spartans improved to 3-0-3.
Oct. 5 Boys Soccer
Yeah baby! Steinert streaks to fifth straight victory
Steinert’s freshman boys soccer team won its fifth straight with a 4-1 win over Princeton today, as Joe Hemlinger tallied two goals, while Rich Kozlowski and Mike Wherley added one goal each. Pat Ferguson added an assist for the Spartans (6-2).
“We’re on a little mini-roll,” said coach Jim “Jules” Giglio. “Maybe I should call Dr. Evil and get Mini Me to be my assistant.”
Oct. 3 Girls Soccer
Johnston’s three goals help Spartans tie Seneca
Oct. 3: Morgan Johnston exploded for three goals and the Steinert freshman girls’ soccer team needed every one to escape with a 3-3 tie and put its record at 2-0-3. Brittany Woodruff and Julianna Nini had assists for the still undefeated Spartans.
Oct. 3 Boys Soccer
Spartans ‘Hunt’ down a win behind Strama, Hemlinger
Oct. 3: Adrian “Duct Tape” Strama scored three goals and Joe Hemlinger added two as the Steinert boys’ freshman soccer team topped Lawrence, 5-0. It was the fourth straight win for Steinert (5-2) and third straight shutout.
Brandon Rivera had an assist, while goalie Chris Hunt had eight saves for the whitewash.
Oct. 1 Girls Soccer
DeAngelo scores a pair as Steinert blanks Hopewell
Oct. 1: The Steinert freshman girls’ soccer team rolled past Hopewell Valley, 4-0, to improve its record to 2-0-2.
Natalie DeAngelo had two goals for the Spartans, while Reilly Zoldi and Rachel Floodman added one each. Julianna Nini, Lynzie Worth and Morgan McMullen had assists.
“This was our third time playing Hopewell this season and it seems that we are beginning to gel as a team and get the ball in the net,” said coach and PITA Fan Club President Colleen Periera.
Goalies Courtney Stanley and Mariah Greco secured the Spartans fourth shutout of the season.
Sep. 27 Boys Soccer
Steinert defense stepping up as they win third straight
Sep. 27: The Steinert boys’ freshman soccer team is turning stingy.
The Spartans notched their second shutout in as many afternoons today with a 1-0 victory over Burlington County power Seneca. Rich Kozlowski converted a cross from Mike Wherley for the game’s lone goal, while Matt Powers notched 12 saves.
Aiding the defensive cause were sweeper Chance Eggert, stopper Brian Goldberg and backs Pat Ferguson and Brandon Rivera.
On Monday, Alec Gerasimowicz scored both goals and Kozlowski had an assist in a 2-0 win over West Windsor-Plainsboro South. Powers and Hunt combined for 10 saves.
That makes it three in a row for the Spartans (4-2).
Sep. 20 Girls Soccer
Spartans and HoVal play to a scoreless tie
Sep. 20: Playing Hopewell for the second time in four days due to a dearth of girls freshman soccer teams in the county, Steinert played the Bulldogs to a scoreless tie -- their second such outcome this season.
"It was a great game played by all," said Spartan coach Colleen "PITA Fan Club Prez" Periera. "Both defenses were very strong."
Sep. 16 Football
Johnson runs wild in Nottingham’s win over Hightstown
Sep. 16: The Nottingham High freshman football team improved to 2-0 with a 24-22 win over Hightstown today.
Arthur Johnson rushed for over 200 yards, three touchdowns and all three 2-point conversions, with 140 yards and two TDs coming in the first quarter.
His solid performance came behind blocks from Jon Pierre-Louis, Christian Demeo, Ricardo Roman, Anthony Forchi, Juan Corona, Jeffrey Dorvil, Daniel Stout, and Mackenzie Henry.
Nekayle Whitaker saved the game for the Stars shutting down the Rams’ final two-point conversion attempt. Anthony Petro and Sean Shumate played solid on the edges. The Stars will host Hamilton at 4 p.m. Friday in the friendly confines of Wilno Field.
Sep. 19 Boys Soccer
Hemlinger, ‘Duct Tape’ pace Steinert past Hopewell Valley
Sep. 19: Powered by two goals apiece from Joe Hemlinger and Adrian “Duct Tape” Strama, the Steinert freshman boys soccer team took a 4-1 victory over previously unbeaten Hopewell Valley.
“Strama’s shoes were falling apart before the game so I duct taped them together,” said coach Jim “I Love New York It's Citi Field I Hate” Giglio. “I told him if he scored today his new nickname would be Duct Tape, so he scored two.”
Hey, it beats Kent Dorfman’s Delta Tau Kai nickname of Flounder.
Anyway, picking up assists for the Spartans were Nick Petito, Rich Kozlowski, Dominic Maruca and Chance Eggert. Steinert improved to 2-2 while the Bulldogs fell to 3-1.
Sep. 16 Boys Soccer
Northstars play well in an intense scoreless tie with WWPS
Sep. 16: The Nottingham boys freshman soccer team played West Windsor-Plainsboro South to a scoreless tie.
“It was an intense game and we played extremely hard,” coach Melissa “Shop ‘N Bag” Foley said. “I was excited to see a lot of good combinations offensively, however we fell short of putting a goal in the back of the net.”
Foley said Shea Falcey, Tyler Hettig and Loagan Vaughen had
“outstanding performances” while Chiddy Iloka stayed strong in the goal.
Sep. 16 Girls Soccer
Woodruff's goal slips Steinert past Hopewell Valley
Sep. 16: Brittany Woodruff converted a pass from Morgan Johnston to give the Steinert girls' freshman soccer team a 1-0 win over Hopewell Valley today. It was the first win of the year for the young Spartans (1-0-1).
Goalies Courtney Stanley and Mariah Greco shared the shutout in goal, which was aided by "a strong defense," according to coach and PITA fan club president Colleen Periera.
Sep. 14 Boys Soccer
Marles, Iloka help Nottingham blank Lawrence
Sep. 14: The Nottingham freshman boys soccer team rolled to a 2-0 victory ove Lawrence today that had head coach Melissa "Shop 'N Bag" Foley smiling.
"I am very proud of our performance," Foley said. "We played like a team and were able to stay focused the entire game. We had a solid defensive performance throughout the game, led by Christopher Marles."
The goals came from Steven Gregorio and Roswamslow Montina, while Chitty Iloka notched his first shutout of the season in goal.
Matt Powers makes one of his 15 saves for Steinert in its freshman soccer game with Trenton Wednesday (Photo by Mike Dill/purchase photos at michaeldillphotography.com). 
Alec Gerasimowicz is congratulated by teammates after giving Steinert a 1-0 lead against Trenton on Wednesday. Photo by Mike Dill (Purchase photos at michaeldillphotography.com).
Sep. 14 Boys Soccer
Trenton scores two late goals to topple Steinert
Sep. 14: Alec Gerasimowicz scored off an assist from Adrian Strama but it wasn’t enough as Trenton scored twice in the last 10 minutes to defeat Steinert, 2-1, in boys soccer today.
Goalie Matt Powers made 15 saves and “played awesome” according to coach Jim “Jules” Giglio.
Sep. 13 Boys Soccer
Spartans prevail in historic first meeting with Emily Fisher
Sep. 9: In a history-making game, the Steinert freshman boys soccer team came away with a 4-0 victory over the Emily Fisher Charter School.
It was history-making, because it’s the first time in Jim “Jules” Giglio’s 20-plus years as freshman coach that Steinert ever played Emily Fisher Charter School.
“They should have filmed it and put it in a time capsule,” Giglio said. “Then when we meet them for the 100th game they could have dug it up and looked at it.”
Yeah, that’s what they should have done.
Anyway, Joe Helmlinger had two goals while Brandon River and Rick Kozlowski had one goal each and Nick Petito had an assist. Goalies Matt Powers and Chris Hunt combined for eight saves, while Chance Eggert “was a rock on defense” according to Giglio.
Sep. 12 Girls Soccer
Spartans tie WWPS in a thriller
Sep 12: The Steinert girls freshman team opened the season with a scoreless tie against West Windsor-Plainsboro South.
“All the girls fought hard in this keep-you-on-the-edge-of-your-seat game,” coach Colleen Periera said.
Sep. 9 Football
'Stars top Steinert to open the season on high note
Sep. 9: The Nottingham freshman football team opened the season with a 28-0 win over Steinert today.
Arthur Johnson opened the scoring with a 20-yard run and Oscar Guerrier tacked on the two-point conversion. On the ensuing Spartan possession Johnson intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards to the house.
Quarterback James Jenkins rushed for a seven-yard touchdown and the Stars tacked on the two points. The half ended with a 50 yard strike from Jenkins to Tyquan Young.
Zack Grehan, Mitch Saul, Thomas Schroth, Trott Montina and Jon Pierre-Louis turned in numerous big plays on Defense. The offensive line turned in a magnificent performance and all 41 of the Freshmen Stars played and made positive contributions to the team’s success.
The Freshmen dedicated the game to Bryton Dieujuste, saying as a group “We all love you and you will always be one of us!”
The Northstars travel to Hightstown Friday, led captains Jenkins, Christian Demeo, Johnson and ‘Star of the week Chistopher Silverio.
Click here for 2010 Fall Freshman Results
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FISH TALES
(Also known as
Rich Fisher's blog)
Feb. 5 2012
Former GAK player
fondly remembers
coach Nick Wiener
Feb. 5: Hamilton Township and Mercer County soccer lost one of the most influential men in their rich history this past week when Nick Wiener passed away at age 73.
The Yardville resident coached German American Kicker teams for over 40 years and was responsible for not only winning championships, but for making better players.
Chris “Buzz” Barlow, a producer for NFL Films, played for Hightstown High School and the University of Pennsylvania, but learned much about the game playing for Nick on the GAK.
Chris was kind enough to share his memories of the legendary coach, which are as follows:
Mercer County lost a great man last Sunday with the passing of Nick Wiener, and the Mercer County soccer community lost a legend.
In the late 80s and early 90s I was fortunate to play for Nick on his German American Kickers team. I had been playing for the GAK youth team for a few years when Nick decided he wanted me to join the men’s team. I don’t remember how that conversation went, but I’m sure it was something like this:
“Chrissy…” (Yes, he called me Chrissy. No one else did but for some reason it didn’t bother me when he did it. Of course, I would come to learn that Pete became Petey, Ed became Eddie, Jim-Jimmy, Dave-Davey, and even Nick’s two sons on our team, Nick and John were Nicky and Johnny). . .
“Chrissy, we have a game Sunday at 2, you’ll be there.” I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a command, and even though I was living in Philadelphia at the time going to school, I made sure I was at the game. I couldn’t say no to Coach Nick, but then again, why would I want to? I would be playing for a coach with a masterful knowledge of the game, and be playing with guys whom I’d admired and emulated for years.
Nick was a coach who trusted his players and treated them like men. He saw no need to run up and down the sidelines yelling (unless he was after an official). And Nick could say just as much with a glance or a look as with a phrase. But either way, he was going to get his point across, and if personnel changes needed to be made, he didn’t hesitate to make them. It was so obvious how much the game meant to him and how much he cared. You couldn’t let him down.
When you played for Nick, you would play anyone, anywhere. And for many years, it seemed like we did--from Farcher’s Grove in Union, (which did not have a blade of grass on it) to Perth Amboy—where we played underneath the Outerbridge Crossing, from Kearny to Newark to East Orange. It seemed like we spent most weekends going up and down the Jersey Turnpike.
But there was nothing like a home game at the GAK club on Uncle Pete’s Road. It was soccer Camelot, and with Nick serving as our King Arthur, we hardly ever lost there. But there was so much more than just the game. After each win we’d be treated to dinner inside the club. We’d replay the game, tell tall tales, and think about the next time we’d be lucky enough to play there.
My most vivid memory of playing for Nick came the year that we made a deep run in the State Cup and found ourselves in the final at Thompson Park in Lincroft. We gave up an early goal and then had a player sent off with a red card, so we had to play the remainder of the game a man down. Nick never panicked though, and because he didn’t, we didn’t. We managed to tie the game and won in penalty kicks.
Eventually, Camelot had to end for me. Real world responsibilities like a job and family took precedent over soccer.
But I’ll never forget what I learned from Nick Wiener and how much fun I had playing for him with GAK.
And I’m sure that right now, Nick is in a perfect place, preparing a side to play a game on the perfect pitch. In my mind, that place looks exactly like GAK, and Nick is standing at midfield ready for kick off.
Rest in peace, Coach Nick.
Jan. 6, 2012
Here’s to those
who never quit
Before getting to the headline item, I just want to wish a Happy Birthday (two days late) to my wonderful mom, Dianne Fisher. Love ya mom! Good luck in your Super Bowl pools. From what you tell me, they can’t get any worse than the regular season!
* * *
I have some new heroes.
They are athletes I’ve come to respect after a couple of years covering high school swimming (which I never did before this website). You will probably never hear of them by the time they graduate.
At least not for their swimming exploits.
My heroes are the boys and girls who will never be listed in the Top 3 when (if) the results are printed in the paper. Heck, even if they printed all top-five place finishers you wouldn’t see them.
They’re the ones who finish dead last.
By a lot.
Believe me, I am not trying to be witty or sarcastic or smart-assy about this.
It’s one thing for a swimmer at the top of their craft to bust a gut trying to break a record, win a race or, in some cases, win a meet. There’s plenty of adrenaline to push them and the crowd is cheering wildly, whether they can hear it or not.
It’s an entirely different matter when the race is over where points are concerned, and there is just one swimmer still in the pool. Everyone is waiting for that person to touch out so they can get on to the next event.
I’m talking mostly about a distance event since that’s where a swimmer can get behind by a really lot.
And some do. It would be sooo easy for them to just say ‘Heck with this’ and climb out of the pool before their last lap. What the heck, whether they finish or not, they still get the same zero points.
But you know what. They don’t do that. They churn and churn and churn, determined not to give up.
They have the pride and the guts and the conviction to see it through. What doesn’t matter one iota in the grand scheme of the meet, matters to them. They’ve done all the work in practice, they’re sure not going to just give up on it when the actual meet takes place.
To me, there’s something darn heroic about that. I admire the heck out of it.
So next time one of you swimmers is dragging along in last place, thinking no one is watching and that no one cares, just know it's enough that you care.
And keep it up.
It will serve you well later in life.
(Feel free to re-read this during track season, as it is applicable then as well).
* * *
How about Jeff Lurie saying Andy Reid isn’t arrogant?
During his silly Tuesday press conference Lurie said the Eagles season was unacceptable. Well Jeff, nothing in the world is more unacceptable then the ludicrous comment that Reid is not arrogant.
All that was left was for Lurie to say "And he's not overweight either, that's just your perception."
Some day I’m gonna find out just what incriminating pictures Reid has of Lurie.
* * *
Of course, there’s arrogance, and then there’s arrogance.
Tony Mack wants more money.
Seriously? I mean. . .seriously?
There weren’t enough LOLs, ROFLs, LMAOs or LMFAOs in the world to describe how hard I laughed when I read that.
And there won’t be enough oceans in the world to hold Trenton residents’ tears if they actually give it to him.
More money?
Seriously?
* * *
So, the Miami (formerly Florida) Marlins got Carlos Zambrano.
Yikes!
As a Phillies fan, I should fear the Marlins with all the moves they have made.
But I can’t wait to watch how that whole situation blows up down there.
With everyone making their (pick one – bold, fearless, outrageous) predictions for 2012, I’ll give you one that I feel pretty good about. That entire Marlins scene will be the second coming of the chaotic Bronx Zoo made popular by Yankees of the late 1970s.
Only the Marlins won’t win back-to-back titles.
Just look at the recipe for disaster they’ve concocted.
First you have Hanley Ramirez, who’s not the most grounded guy to begin with and who is already upset that he has to move to third base so Jose Reyes can take over.
Ah yes, Jose Reyes. We know about him in these parts. For all we know, he may get a leadoff single on opening day then ask to be removed from the lineup that day and ask to be used only as a ninth-inning defensive replacement or pinch-runner in order to become the first guy to ever bat 1.000 while playing 162 games.
Now they add Zambrano to the mix. Here’s a pitcher who hits teammates with more regularity than he hits the corners. What happens when Reyes has a bad day at the plate and dogs it in the field when Zambrano is pitching?
Ding, ding, ding! There's a right to the jaw, and Reyes is down!
One of Zambarno’s most recent fights with a teammate came against the White Sox, and he and Guillen went out to dinner afterward. Guillen calls Zambrano his friend and several articles state he was a major player in getting the pitcher.
Of course, we’ve all seen how stable Ozzie has been over the years. He has had more bleeped out post-game press conferences on Sports Center than, um, well than anybody! Managerial skills aside, Guillen is about as loose a cannon as there is among managers.
This, my friends, is gonna be a wild scene.
* * *
Sticking with Fish’s Hot Stove Blog for a moment, I’m going to set an over-under number for local baseball announcers.
The number is the same for all three of them – 200. What that means is, I think they are going to do/say the following things once each game, and more than once in at least 38 others.
Here we go:
--John Sterling will make non-Yankee fans puke.
--A bad play will be made by either the Mets or their opponent, and Keith Hernandez will groan and say “You just can’t do that” and be sincerely offended when the game isn’t played correctly. He will do that a lot, cuz the game’s not played correctly a lot.
--Chris Wheeler will note that it was very important that the eighth hitter in the lineup got on base with two outs, assuring that the pitcher won’t have to lead off the next inning. I’ve also set the over-under at 300 that Wheels will discuss the importance of two-out hits; the benefits of getting them and the emotional distress of allowing them.
I’ll take the over on all of them.
Moving onto the national scene, I’ll set the over-under at 3 for FOX’s crack team that no one seems to like:
--Joe Buck will make an exciting call.
--Tim McCarver will make an observation without trying to make it sound like it is the most important thing ever uttered in baseball history.
I’ll take the under on both of them. By a lot.
* * *.
NFL playoffs baby. Love ‘em!
The next two weekends are awesome. Championship Sunday is good too, but it’s cool to know you have two playoff games on Saturday and Sunday the next two weeks. And besides, Championship Sunday is starting to bug me with the lavish halftime shows that stretch the game out forever, but not quite as long as the Super Bowl.
I'm sure that now I've made my grievance public, the NFL will quickly move to change things.
* * *
Must have been a wild night in Morgantown Wednesday. About 90 minutes after West Virginia’s basketball team torched Rutgers for 85 points, the Mountaineers football team scored a bowl record 70 against Clemson.
Having been to Morgantown before, I’m willing to bet there were more than a few guys (and girls) doing a shot for every point scored by each . . .and nobody passed out.
I actually covered that basketball game and had to laugh at coach Mike Rice, who I think is doing a nice job and will turn things around if given the chance.
Someone asked Rice how far away the win over No. 10 Florida felt after two straight losses. Rice looked at him and said "That's a good question."
Then he had an expression as if he were going to give a well thought out answer, and he just kind of muttered on word: "Far." Sometimes less is better. That pretty much told the tale.
