With fall sports soon coming to a close, West Milford High School fall teams are wrapping up their games. Sporting a varsity roster with 13 returning seniors, the boys soccer team had started off the 2021 season on a positive note. Coming out of the preseason with a record of 2-2, the boys boasted wins against Hawthorne Christian (1-0), and a talented Hawthorne team (2-1). The West Milford boys team plays in the Big North Conference, facing the likes of Lakeland, Wayne Valley and Wayne Hills. This conference is notoriously tough, yet the experienced squad has had a competitive year so far in their respective conference.

In their season opener on September 9th, West Milford faced Fairlawn away. Amidst cool temperatures and light rain, the Highlanders went home with a tough 0-3 loss. Veteran Coach Ray Ferriola looked to highlight areas in which the squad could improve. He believed that improvement in the team’s defense and possession could result in better scorelines. His assumption rang true, as the team defeated Passaic Valley in dominant fashion with a score of 4-2. The following week, senior captain Chris Albar was awarded West Milford High School’s male athlete of the week award. His two assists coupled with his great defense proved instrumental in the win.

Several weeks later, the Highlanders faced the Lakeland Lancers away. The cool weather that night made for a great afternoon to play soccer. The Lancers were holding their annual “Kick It For Change” Fundraiser to raise money for pediatric cancer research, and the bleachers were filled with spectators.  Each team possessed the ball well and had their fair share of opportunities at net. The game remained even for the entire first half, with the offenses and defenses of each side being well-matched. A foul committed by West Milford inside of the box early in the 2nd half gave the Lancers a penalty kick from a mere 12 yards away. The Lancers took advantage of the penalty, and took a 1-0 lead despite a valiant effort from senior goalkeeper Andrew Dittemer. Andrew’s efforts helped the Highlanders to hold this 0-1 scoreline with several key saves, but the team was unable to equalize during the remainder of the second half.

Despite a tough start to the season, the Highlander Boys Soccer Team have managed to improve their record with several games still left to play. With a few more late season wins, the boys may have a shot of clenching a state tournament spot. Regardless, if you have time, check out their schedule on westmilfordathletics.org and show some support at one of their games. Good luck to the boys as they embark on the remainder of their season!