Schools mentioned from the NJIC are:
Andrew Miller | For NJ Advance Media
Damian Zurawski will look to lead Wallington to the Group 1 title his senior season.
Favorite: Wallington
Wallington heads into this season armed with two of the deadliest scorers in the state in seniors Damian Zurawski and Nick Zielonka. The attacking duo combined for 67 goals and 35 assists last season. Wallington brings a ton back from last year’s squad including all-league players in senior midfielder Joseph Tabaka and junior defender Alexander Zielonka. Second team all-league junior defender Omar Shaarawy will return as well. Wallington has fallen just short of sectional titles in recent years, but with its dynamic duo heading into their final year, a certain sense of urgency will be playing in this team’s favor.
CONTENDERS
Cresskill
Cresskill has a brick wall between the pipes in Gianpaolo Colannino, who will be entering his senior year with a ton of confidence. Leading scorer Conor Tobin will return to the midfield after scoring 19 goals and dishing out four assists last year. Its offense won’t miss a beat with Robert Boiardi and Jin Heung Yoo both back as well. The duo combined for 17 goals and six assists last season. All-league selection Brandon Tilp will lead Cresskill’s defense.
Hasbrouck Heights
Hasbrouck Heights lost leading scorer Emiland Elezaj to the academy circuit and will look to senior midfielder Victor Barris to help fill the void after scoring nine goals and having six assists last season. He will get some help offensively from senior midfielders Alec Escalante, Mario Gomez and Michael Gerges. Hasbrouck Heights’ back line will feature seniors Ryan Garden, Killian Turner and Nick Petrosino.
Park Ridge
Despite losing some core players to graduation, Park Ridge is bringing back a strong group of seniors and juniors to fill any holes. Senior goalkeeper Nick Depasquale will return to the net after posting 13 shutouts last year. Bobby Ciarletta scored eight goals last season, but will move to the back line this year alongside fellow senior Wouter Schuitt and junior Christopher Uva. The offense will run through Sebastian Leduc, who had nine goals last season, but expect Ben D’Alessandro, Michael DiRienzio, Robert Nicolich and Pim Schuitt to be consistent contributors as well.
Pompton Lakes
Pompton Lakes graduated its top two scorers from last season and will rely on junior forward Brennan Foster to build on a seven goal, six assist season. Senior midfielder Rigon Abedini could also be on the verge of a big year after having three goals and seven assists last season.
Secaucus
Secaucus brings back forward Yuvraj Sukeshkumar from the academy circuit and expects him to be an immediate contributor. In the midfield, Daniel Youn will run things, while Luciano Chirino will lead the defense.
Waldwick
Waldwick is the defending North 1, Group 1 champion, but only returns three starters from that team. That group is headed by senior midfielders Zach Rosen and juniors Jaggar da Silva and Lucas Ruehlemann. Ruehlemann scored 11 goals and had 13 assists on his way to a first team All-League selection. Senior John McHugh brings a lot of experience to the back line.
GROUP 2 CONTENDERS
Glen Rock
Glen Rock won the Bergen County Tournament and North 1, Group 2 championship last season. It graduated some big-time scorers, but returns senior midfielder Conor Daly, who had 15 assists last season. Senior Ryan McCarthy will join Daly in the midfield. Glen Rock will have a strong defense led by seniors Koki Otsu and Oscar Horwitz. Up top junior forward Jason Kapiloff is expected to make an immediate impact.
Harrison
Replacing an All-State player like Omar Sowe is not going to be an easy task, but if any program can rebuild quickly, it’s Harrison. Senior midfielder Jairo Araujo scored 15 goals and had 15 assists last season, while senior forward Allan De Melo had 12 goals and seven assists. Steven Espinoza could also be in store for a big season after dishing out 10 assists.
Rutherford
Rutherford has one of the deadliest attacking defenders in the state returning in senior Jason Alves, who had 11 goals last season. Junior forward Henry Gomes is looking to build on a three goal, one assist season to lead the offense, while junior Shane Kelly will lead the midfield after scoring five goals and dishing out nine assists.
NON-PUBLIB B CONTENDER
Dwight-Englewood
Dwight-Englewood certainly has some scoring to replace, but has a forward with a nose for the net coming back in senior Justin Jo, who had nine goals and four assists last season. Dwight-Englewood went 16-2-2 last season and fell to Gill St. Bernard’s in the North Jersey, Non-Public B semifinals
