Hilltoppers Will Count on Experienced Backline

When you lose 14 seniors to graduation, like the Summit High School boys’ soccer team did last June, there is a tendency to use the term “rebuilding.”

Except that word is not in the vocabulary of the Hilltoppers’ head coach Rob Grella.

“Not only did we lose 14 seniors, but they were kids who were three-year starters for us,” said Grella, who begins his fifth season as head coach. “Right now, we’re still getting to know each other with so many new kids.”

Grella, whose team posted a 16-5-2 record and lost in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group III semifinals via penalty kicks to Scotch Plains-Fanwood a year ago, has been impressed so far by the collection of players he has preparing for the 2009 season. Last year, the Hilltoppers also advanced to the finals of the Union County Tournament for the first time since 1981, before falling in the title match to Elizabeth.

But this will be almost a totally different squad for Grella.

“We have some really big, strong, athletic kids,” said Grella, who will lead the Hilltoppers in their season opener Saturday, Sept. 12, ironically against the same Scotch Plains-Fanwood squad that ended the 2008 campaign. “We’re definitely bigger and stronger than we were last year and we have a chance to be even more talented. The question is whether we have enough experience.”

The Hilltoppers are going to count on their experienced performers in the backline, including a stellar group of defenders.

Leading the way is junior Clayton Johnson, who earned several post-season honors last year as a sophomore, including Second Team All-Union County. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Johnson scored four goals from his defender slot last year, moving forward in set pieces.

“Clayton is a big kid who scored some big goals in big games,” Grella said.

Another key returnee is solid senior defender Joe Callahan, who comes from good soccer stock. His father, Joe, Sr. was a standout player during his playing days at St. Peter’s Prep in Jersey City. The younger Callahan suffered a broken leg last year, but has recovered well and will be a player to watch along the Summit back line.

The third returnee along the back line is senior defender Eric Vorchheimer, who saw a lot of action down the stretch last year.

Those three will see most of the time in front of goalkeeper Jay Chrisfield. The senior takes over the net minding duties from Alex Lucaci, who is now playing at Loyola University in Maryland. Chrisfield saw some action last year as Lucaci’s backup. Chris Meier, also a senior, is in the mix to see time in goal this year for the Hilltoppers.

But Grella knows that the strength of the team this year starts from the back.

“We’re building from the back out,” Grella said.

Senior Roy Gutierrez, who has been a part of the Summit soccer program for three years, will also be a part of the Hilltoppers’ defensive unit. Senior Ben Roessler will also be in the mix at defender.

In the midfield, the Hilltoppers will look to junior Tim Yeager, whose older brother, Chris, was an All-American at Summit a few years ago. The younger Yeager played football for two years, but just recently made the shift to soccer.

Senior Ryan Troy will also play a key role in the midfield. Alex Przedpelski, Jeff Zamora and Peter Loughlin will also get a chance to battle for playing time among the midfielders.

Junior Justin Cyrus, who was the leading scorer on the junior varsity squad a year ago, will be a major force among the Hilltopper forwards. Cyrus’ brother, Julian, was on the team last year.

Junior Luke Shehata will be among those seeing time at forward, along with senior David Narranyo.

“We have about nine or 10 kids battling for five spots,” Grella said. “It’s been very competitive so far.”

The Hilltoppers begin play this year in the new Mid-State 39 Conference-Mountain Division, a division that includes Cranford, Governor Livingston, Hillside and Johnson Regional.

But Grella has devised a non-league schedule that will really test the Hilltoppers, facing such foes as Scotch Plains, Westfield, Union, Elizabeth, Linden and Kearny, all programs that are traditionally strong and have a chance to earn a state sectional title come November.

“It’s a great schedule, maybe one of the toughest in the state,” Grella said. “We’re the program no one wants to play. We have to play the best competition in the state. The kids get more visibility and they know how to compete. I think it will definitely help us later on and will give this team the experience it needs.”

Even with the brutal schedule, Grella feels that the Hilltoppers will enjoy a successful fall.

“If we can get these kids to jell together and get it going, I think we’ll be fine,” Grella said. “We certainly have enough talent and have enough size. We definitely play one of the toughest schedules out there. I don’t know if anyone else would take on this schedule. But that’s what we wanted to do when we changed the program around. It used to be that everyone wanted to play Summit and now, no one does. So that has to be a good sign.”

And it will be a good sign when the Hilltoppers are highly competitive once again this fall.