Varsity
Ryan Spring, Head Coach
Bob Brandwood, Assistant

Junior Varsity
Tom Parauda, Head Coach
Edwidge Dorelien, Assistant

Thirds
Nathan Molteni, Head Coach
Katie Hylton, Assistant

The boys’ soccer season runs from
September through November.

Blair Beats Peddie in Overtime to Help
Capture the Cup

11/12 - Blair 1 - Peddie 0
As is almost always the case on Peddie Day, the two teams were evenly matched and produced a game that see-sawed from end-to-end. Both teams created good scoring opportunities but neither could convert in regulation time. Seniors Matt Middleton, Yonny Reichel and Sean Reilly battled for dominance in midfield, and the Bucs defense--Joe Frick, Nico Parauda, Collin Browse, Graham Van der Lee, Jack Wedholm--frustrated an enterprising Peddie attack. On the flanks, Gunn Woo Park, Colton Hardman, Connor McClain and Tom Norton created problems for the Peddie fullbacks, as did Chris Mezzanotte up top, but the most influential wing-player proved to be Matoko Noudehou, returning from injury and careening up and down the left flank. It took 95 minutes to break the deadlock between the two teams, and it came in the midst of the second "golden goal" period of extra time on a perfectly driven free-kick from Yonny Reichel. As the ball went into the net, the Bucs were engulfed by a wave of delerious Blair students who had been vocal in their support of the team throughout the game.

Moyo Signs National Letter of Intent to Attend #14 Ranked Creighton University

Senior captain Sean Moyo recently signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Creighton University in the fall.

A native of Zimbabwe, Moyo is looking forward to becoming a Bluejay: “I am excited about the high level of play and the great coaching staff. I also like the size of the school; like Blair it has a strong community, and I feel it is a good fit for me academically.”

The Creighton mens’ soccer team finished the 2010 season ranked 14th in NCAA Division I. A national power, Creighton has qualified for 18 of the last 19 NCAA tournaments and has had at least one player taken in the Major League Soccer draft every year since the league’s inception.

Dear Prospective Blair Soccer Player:

Thank you for expressing interest in the Blair Academy boys’ soccer program.

For boys, there are three levels of competitive, interscholastic soccer at Blair. At the varsity level Blair competes in both the New Jersey Prep A soccer association and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League (MAPL). This demanding schedule usually includes about 16-18 games each season, including the state tournament. While the MAPL does not have a tournament, it does declare a champion based on league play amongst the major mid-Atlantic boarding schools: Blair, Hill, Hun, Lawrenceville, Mercersburg, and Peddie. In particular, the Blair-Peddie rivalry is among the most spirited in New Jersey, so the Peddie Day match is always one of the highlights of the season.

For varsity players the season begins in early September with a week-long pre-season camp. With two and sometimes three training sessions each day, the preseason is physically demanding and requires that athletes dedicate themselves to staying in shape during the summer months. In addition, many Blair players have joined the coaching staff for a five-day stay at Team Prep Camp in Casco, Maine in late August during the last seven summers. At Team Prep Camp we train twice a day (often including a session with a college or professional coach) and compete in evening games against New England prep powers like Loomis Chaffee, Holderness, and Brooks. Once we return to New Jersey and the season begins, we play two games (Wednesday and Saturday) and practice four afternoons each week.

In 2007, we added a new lighted, all-weather turf field. The boys’ varsity team shares this space with Blair’s other fall teams. A new grass field will also be ready this fall. We are excited about these upgrades to our athletic facilities as well as the renovations to the current gym, which were completed in the winter of 2008-09.

Our JV and Thirds soccer teams do an excellent job of preparing young players for the varsity team and providing a positive experience for players of all levels. The JV team practices four times a week and plays approximately 16 games. Designed for freshmen and sophomores who are not yet ready for the JV level, the “Thirds” team plays approximately 15 games against our Mid-Atlantic Prep League rivals Hill, Hun, Lawrenceville, and Peddie as well as a number of local public high schools. Therefore, the JV and Thirds teams also compete on Peddie Day.

Thank you again for your interest in the Blair boys’ soccer program. As you can see, we have a program that suits many levels of ability and interest. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you have about boys’ soccer at Blair. I can be contacted via phone (908) 362-6121 ext 5694 and email sprinr@blair.edu.

Sincerely,

Ryan H. Spring
Boys’ Soccer Coach

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