1968 Boys Soccer Team

1968 Boys Soccer Team

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In the first decade of Glen Rock High School, Glen Rock’s highest achieving team was the 1968 Boys Soccer Team, finishing its season as Group 3, North Jersey Champion and runner up to the Group 3, State Champion.

During its regular season, the team’s only loss was to Group 4 River Dell (the previous year’s Group 3 State Championship team) on a penalty kick (1-0). The two teams subsequently tied 2-2 in their second match. Glen Rock defeated all of its other regular season opponents.

In the Group 3, State Championship Tournament, the team defeated Moorestown, Wayne Hills, and previously undefeated (and the defending Group 3 State Runner Up) North Plainfield by identical 3-0 scores. Sadly, in the Group 3 State Championship game, it suffered a heart breaking 2-1 loss to the previous year’s Group 2 State Championship team, Lawrence, a team that was in the midst of winning a record five consecutive state championships.

The 1968 Boys Soccer Team finished the season with a 15-2-1 record, scoring 53 goals and only allowing 11 goals, with 10 shutouts. The team was led by thirteen seniors: Bob Catapano; Bill Checkley; Rick Frazier; Steve Kennelly; Kent Larsen; Ross McDonald; Glenn Neumann; Brent Nickles; Tom Peterson; Dwight Rodgers; Mike Tuzzolo; Doug Wordley; and Carl Zaisser. Hall of Fame Inductee Glenn Neumann (right wing) led the team in scoring with 20 goals. In addition to Glenn, Steve (left wing), Ross (center fullback), and Brent (goalie) were named to the First Team, All- Suburban by The Ridgewood News. In addition, Hall of Fame Head Coach Bill Carbone was named Coach of the Year.

Reflecting their athleticism, nearly every one of the “starting twelve” starred in other sports. The team included three of the five starters on the basketball team — the only basketball team in the school’s history to be outright NBIL champions – a multiyear District Champion in wrestling — a First Team, All-Suburban member of the track team — and seven of the nine starters on the baseball team — a team that defeated the eventual Group 3, Sectional Champion Cliffside Park in the Bergen County Tournament before losing to the
defending Group 4, Sectional Champion Ridgewood in extra innings. In addition, several players had success in college and one set a national record as a high school soccer coach.

In 1969, the high school officially recognized the 1968 Soccer Team as the first team worthy of having their picture hung beside the one of the historic 1960 football team in the Athletic Lobby.

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