Sean Farrell
His name might trip you up. His game will trip up defenders even faster.
Wallington junior forward Alex Lyszczarczyk has erupted for 19 goals and four assists this season, including the game-winner on Monday against Glen Rock – a dose of redemption after a four-goal loss earlier in the year.
His strike extended the Panthers’ unbeaten streak to eight games and solidified a first-round bye in the upcoming Bergen County tournament.
Born in Poland before moving to the United States at age four, Lyszczarczyk didn’t speak English when he arrived. His family came to North Jersey to start a new life, following his grandmother who had immigrated first to support relatives back home.
The word new coach Isaac Archbold keeps coming back to is his drive.
“He knows that there’s not a single defender in the league that could keep up with him,” Archbold said. “And it’s his passion. Everyone can say they have passion, but he literally wears his heart on his sleeve.”
Lyszczarczyk isn’t the biggest player at 5-foot-9, but he’s one of the most explosive. He trains year-round with Cedar Stars Academy and said his favorite player is Belgian Jérémy Doku, a winger also known for his speed. Lyszczarczyk credits his coach and a new formation – the 4-4-1-1, rather than a two-striker set – for unlocking his potential.
After finishing with seven goals as a sophomore, he raced past the mark in mid-September.
“I’m just trying my best, going into every game with a mentality to score at least one,” he said. “I want to be the top goal-scorer in New Jersey and get my name out there.”
Wallington’s rise isn’t just about one player. Fellow juniors Oliwer Pietruczak (11 goals) and Eddie Tanderis (four shutouts) have helped fuel the Panthers during a 9-2-1 start. Lyszczarczyk also points to Oliver Rosas as the team’s hardest worker and most underrated contributor, and calls Alex Gibas the most improved.
It’s also a family affair this fall at Wallington, a small Group 1 school with deep Polish roots. The Panthers’ starting lineup features one set of cousins: Gustaw and Patryk Palasz, and a pair of identical twins, Silas and Willem Preinfalk. Seven juniors start in total.
As for Lyszczarczyk, his name is often mispronounced, but he’s quick to correct it: “It’s Wish-char-chick. Most people think it starts with an L sound, but it’s the Polish way.”
Top 25 rankings
- Ramapo 8-1
- Bergen Catholic 8-2-1
- Tenafly 9-0
- Don Bosco 8-4-1
- Ramsey 6-3
- Mahwah 7-2
- Ridgewood 5-3
- West Milford 8-1-1
- Passaic 10-2
- Clifton 6-2
- Fort Lee 8-1
- DePaul 6-3-1
- Wallington 9-2-1
- Old Tappan 5-3-2
- Kennedy 6-3
- Glen Rock 8-4
- Wayne Valley 6-3
- Pompton Lakes 9-2
- Dwight-Englewood 7-4
- Northern Highlands 5-5-1
- Demarest 4-3-3
- Lyndhurst 9-2
- Wayne Hills 4-4-1
- Emerson 6-5
- Waldwick 6-5-1
(Records through Tuesday.)
