Mark Reilly named Best of the Day

Danser's goal enough for Ewing
Friday, September 23, 2005
By RED BIRCH
Staff Writer
EWING - The Ewing High boys' soccer team is hoping what Justin Danser did yesterday will be the start of something big.

Winning would be nice, but scoring would be even better.

In its first six games this season, the Blue Devils have managed only two goals.

Besides Roody Surin's goal vs. Princeton Day School in Ewing's second game, Danser's second-half tally yesterday is all the offense the Blue Devils have been able to generate in 500 minutes.

Yet all that is behind them now since Danser's goal gave Ewing a 1-0 victory over Trenton High for the Blue Devils' first win.

"The real difference today was that we put one in the back of the net," Ewing seventh-year head coach Brian Dudeck said. "We've had games where we've played tremendously in the backfield and just didn't finish. We've even had the better of play in a few games, but the goals haven't come. We just keep working on (scoring) day in and day out."

Yesterday was one of those days where the Blue Devils had the better of play. Holes were opening in the Tornadoes' backfield, and the Ewing players were desperately trying to capitalize.

Then Danser went to the goal when he saw junior classmate Jordan Csillan break free from his mark along the sideline.

"Jordan dribbled down the sideline and made a nice pass into the center of the field," Danser said. "I was just in the right place at the right time."

The junior midfielder knocked the ball past Trenton first-year goalkeeper Marvin Sandoval for the game's only tally with 14:29 left in the second half.

"We played better as a team today," Danser said. "We continued working hard, which pays off when you take advantage of your opportunities. We just have to keep playing like this."

For Danser, the goal was the kind of contribution he's been hoping to add to the Blue Devils' lineup since transferring to Ewing from McCorristin last year.

"I was able to practice with the team last season," said 16-year-old, who had four goals as a freshman at McCorristin in 2003. "I sat out 30 days, then played in the last six games."

For that reason, Danser was able to make more of an impact with the Blue Devils' baseball team, becoming the team's third baseman as a sophomore.

This season, he's hoping to make a name for himself in both sports as Ewing tries to improve on last year's 6-13-1 finish, despite graduating its top scorer, Sherwayne Simpson (12 goals).

Trenton ended last season with similar hopes after a 7-13 finish. With only three of its expected 12 returnees in the lineup, the Tornadoes' outlook has changed.

"We only had two players who played last year today," said Trenton 18th-year head coach Dominic Lombardo, noting how returning senior co-captain Jorge Sanchez broke his collarbone in the Tornadoes' first game. "We have a lot of inexperienced players. There's been a little bit of improvement, but we still have a lot of work to do."

The Blue Devils, who held Trenton shotless in the second half, can see their improvement happening. Now they just have to prove it by scoring more.