CHS, Scotch Plains collide in boys' soccer scrimmage
By JR Parachini
Staff Writer
For the past few years now, perennial state high school boys’ varsity soccer powers Columbia and Scotch Plains-Fanwood have scrimmaged each other and then went on its ways to challenge for Group 4 and Group 3 supremacy, respectively.
That was the case again Saturday afternoon as two of the top programs in North Jersey began their scrimmage season against each other at Shimme A. Wexler Field at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.
The scrimmage was originally scheduled to be played at Columbia’s grass field, but moved to the Fieldturf at Scotch Plains.
Still at Columbia is nationally renowned head coach Gene Chyzowych, now in his 47th season at the helm of the Cougars. Also still at Scotch Plains is head coach Tom Breznitsky, who is geared up for his 36th season in charge of the Raiders.
Chyzowych and Pingry’s Miller Bugliari are the state’s winningest coaches, Chyzowych at 731-180-77 and Bugliari at 730-90-55. Chyzowych’s first year at Columbia was 1964 and Bugliari’s initial season at Pingry 1960.
Brian Gibney at Shawnee has won more than 600 games as the head coach of the Renegades since 1975. His record was 616-113-47 after the 2007 season. His 2009 team went 9-9-2.
Breznitsky is fourth on the list with a record of 586-139-45 that began with the 1975 season.
If Scotch Plains gets to 14 wins this year, then Breznitsky will become the fourth coach in state history to reach 600 victories.
“It (the scrimmage) was supposed to be at our place, but things didn’t work out, so we came here,” Chyzowych said. “It was a very friendly game.”
Columbia is coming off an 11-8-1 season that saw it reach the Essex County Tournament semifinals and the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 semis.
“We were missing two defenders, senior captain and sweeper Connor Ewald and junior midfielder Marvins Noel,” Chyzowych said. “They didn’t have enough practices in order to participate.
“We had a number of chances in the second half. We had three breakaways and the goalkeeper from Scotch Plains stopped all three, but that’s no excuse. A goal should be a goal and we missed three opportunities.
“They were there - we made them - so that was exciting.”
Scotch Plains went 19-3-2 last year, reaching the Union County Tournament semifinals and the North 2, Group 3 final.
“Scotch Plains has a very good team,” Chyzowych said. “They hustle and they move the ball around nicely. They know how to play on Astroturf.
“We don’t practice or play on Astroturf, we play on grass, so this was our first opportunity to play on Astroturf in a scrimmage game.”
While Columbia will continue to be greatly challenged with scrimmages remaining at home vs. Union City on Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., at Dickinson Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. and home against Union Sept. 7 at 4 p.m., Scotch Plains might have the toughest scrimmage schedule in the state.
The Raiders were to host Pingry Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., remain at home for a session against West Orange on Sept. 2 at 4 p.m., will host Princeton this Saturday at 10 a.m. and then scrimmage at Harrison Sept. 7 at 4 p.m.
Coaches such as Chyzowych, Bugliari, Gibney and Breznitsky continue to field winning teams season after season.
“I still love to coach, it’s my passion,” Chyzowych said. “I’m still very excited and energetic to develop the players to become the best they can be.
“I enjoy that and I will
continue doing that.
“It’s exciting to have Tommy around me and Miller, they’re both great coaches.”
Columbia opens at Orange Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. and will next face Wallington in its home-opener Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. at Meadowlands Park.
“We’re going to have a great season,” Chyzowych said. “We play in a very tough league - Essex County - we play teams like Seton Hall, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation this year I understand. We play teams like West Orange and Montclair - top Group 4 teams.
“I think today showed me that we can do the job. I think we
can go places and be tough on
the competition for the Essex County Tournament as well as
the state tournament.”
Scotch Plains lost 15 seniors to graduation and almost all of its starters, but does return nine lettermen.
“Win or lose it doesn’t matter to me, we saw what we needed to see,” Breznitsky said. “They’ve got a good attitude, they’re very coachable and they’re willing to learn.
“I was exceptionally pleased with that today. They did a good job of keeping the ball on the floor and they worked hard. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
Scotch Plains opens at home against South Plainfield Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. and is then scheduled to host conference foe Union Sept. 11 at 4 p.m.
Staff Writer
For the past few years now, perennial state high school boys’ varsity soccer powers Columbia and Scotch Plains-Fanwood have scrimmaged each other and then went on its ways to challenge for Group 4 and Group 3 supremacy, respectively.
That was the case again Saturday afternoon as two of the top programs in North Jersey began their scrimmage season against each other at Shimme A. Wexler Field at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.
The scrimmage was originally scheduled to be played at Columbia’s grass field, but moved to the Fieldturf at Scotch Plains.
Still at Columbia is nationally renowned head coach Gene Chyzowych, now in his 47th season at the helm of the Cougars. Also still at Scotch Plains is head coach Tom Breznitsky, who is geared up for his 36th season in charge of the Raiders.
Chyzowych and Pingry’s Miller Bugliari are the state’s winningest coaches, Chyzowych at 731-180-77 and Bugliari at 730-90-55. Chyzowych’s first year at Columbia was 1964 and Bugliari’s initial season at Pingry 1960.
Brian Gibney at Shawnee has won more than 600 games as the head coach of the Renegades since 1975. His record was 616-113-47 after the 2007 season. His 2009 team went 9-9-2.
Breznitsky is fourth on the list with a record of 586-139-45 that began with the 1975 season.
If Scotch Plains gets to 14 wins this year, then Breznitsky will become the fourth coach in state history to reach 600 victories.
“It (the scrimmage) was supposed to be at our place, but things didn’t work out, so we came here,” Chyzowych said. “It was a very friendly game.”
Columbia is coming off an 11-8-1 season that saw it reach the Essex County Tournament semifinals and the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 semis.
“We were missing two defenders, senior captain and sweeper Connor Ewald and junior midfielder Marvins Noel,” Chyzowych said. “They didn’t have enough practices in order to participate.
“We had a number of chances in the second half. We had three breakaways and the goalkeeper from Scotch Plains stopped all three, but that’s no excuse. A goal should be a goal and we missed three opportunities.
“They were there - we made them - so that was exciting.”
Scotch Plains went 19-3-2 last year, reaching the Union County Tournament semifinals and the North 2, Group 3 final.
“Scotch Plains has a very good team,” Chyzowych said. “They hustle and they move the ball around nicely. They know how to play on Astroturf.
“We don’t practice or play on Astroturf, we play on grass, so this was our first opportunity to play on Astroturf in a scrimmage game.”
While Columbia will continue to be greatly challenged with scrimmages remaining at home vs. Union City on Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., at Dickinson Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. and home against Union Sept. 7 at 4 p.m., Scotch Plains might have the toughest scrimmage schedule in the state.
The Raiders were to host Pingry Aug. 31 at 10 a.m., remain at home for a session against West Orange on Sept. 2 at 4 p.m., will host Princeton this Saturday at 10 a.m. and then scrimmage at Harrison Sept. 7 at 4 p.m.
Coaches such as Chyzowych, Bugliari, Gibney and Breznitsky continue to field winning teams season after season.
“I still love to coach, it’s my passion,” Chyzowych said. “I’m still very excited and energetic to develop the players to become the best they can be.
“I enjoy that and I will
continue doing that.
“It’s exciting to have Tommy around me and Miller, they’re both great coaches.”
Columbia opens at Orange Sept. 11 at 11 a.m. and will next face Wallington in its home-opener Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. at Meadowlands Park.
“We’re going to have a great season,” Chyzowych said. “We play in a very tough league - Essex County - we play teams like Seton Hall, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation this year I understand. We play teams like West Orange and Montclair - top Group 4 teams.
“I think today showed me that we can do the job. I think we
can go places and be tough on
the competition for the Essex County Tournament as well as
the state tournament.”
Scotch Plains lost 15 seniors to graduation and almost all of its starters, but does return nine lettermen.
“Win or lose it doesn’t matter to me, we saw what we needed to see,” Breznitsky said. “They’ve got a good attitude, they’re very coachable and they’re willing to learn.
“I was exceptionally pleased with that today. They did a good job of keeping the ball on the floor and they worked hard. I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”
Scotch Plains opens at home against South Plainfield Sept. 9 at 3:30 p.m. and is then scheduled to host conference foe Union Sept. 11 at 4 p.m.
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