High School Boys Soccer:
Edgewood's Young Team Starts Out Strong

Friday, September 18, 1998

By Boog Williams
SJSports Staff Writer

The season opener for the Edgewood Eagles was against the Cherry Hill West Lions on Tuesday, September 15. The Eagles' team is young, with 4 freshmen starting, 2 freshmen coming off the bench and no seniors in the defensive backs. The game ended in a 3-3 tie with Cherry Hill West. The goals in the game were scored by Edgewood's #5 Brandon Cohen (Sr.), #4 Chris Blackmore (Sr.) and scoring his first goal as a varsity player, #3 Erik Schmid (Fr.). Cherry Hill West had a hat trick by #10 Kevin Welding. Edgewood had a total of 8 shots on West's keeper, James Cappello. West had a total of 11 shots on Edgewood's keeper Keith Swingle.

The next game for the Eagles was against the Pennsauken Indians, who were coming off a 0-6 loss to Cherry Hill East. Pennsauken started the game off with the first shot, but then Edgewood took the game over. The game ended with Edgewood winning 4-0. All the scoring for Edgewood was done in the first half. The first goal of the game came off of some nice moves by Edgewood's Jeff Kaviana. Kaviana beat 2 defenders and scored at 38:41 of the first half unassisted. The second goal was scored by Brandon Cohen from about 20-25 yards out that went off the hands of Pennsauken's keeper Killion at 37:31, with an assist to Jeff Kaviani. The third goal might be one of the prettiest goals of the year; a long pass from the left side, from Edgewood's Alec Walker (a writer for SJSports last year), over the defense and before the keeper.

Edgewood's Brandon Cohen (who scored 7 goals last year) scored his second of the game at 20:50 and third goal in two games. He beat 2 defenders to the ball, jumped, and tapped the ball over the keeper from the penalty shoot area. The last goal for Edgewood was scored by Chris Blackmore (second of the year) on a breakaway from a pass from Brandon Cohen at 18:42. Edgewood's coach Ron Wence said that Pennsauken's keeper Killion was superb today, with 15 super saves. Edgewood's keeper Swingle had 12 saves for the shut out.

On Friday, Edgewood defeated Paul VI 4-1, by scoring three goals in overtime. The first half was scoreless, because Edgewood's Keeper Keith Swingle made a great save on a penalty kick. Midway through the second half, Paul VI scored (by Schmincke) on a direct kick that deflected off of an Edgewood defender. With 15 minutes left and Edgewood down 1-0, Edgewood's Alex Walker got red carded and Edgewood had to play with 10 players to Paul VI's 11. Brandon Cohen (4th this year) scored with 2 minutes left in the game to sent it into overtime. In overtime, Edgewood exploded for 3 goals scored by Jeff Kaviani (2nd of the year), Chris Blackmore (3rd of the year) and on a penalty kick by Ian Simmons (first goal in high school).

For a young team, 2-0-1 is not a bad way to start the season.

Photos by Boog Williams