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SOCCER

Mendham wins first state soccer title

Jane Havsy
@dailyrecordspts

UNION — After the ball hit the back of the net, Julian Montilus ran to the corner of the field, and pointed to the sky. It's a ritual the Mendham senior had started to honor his mother, Joanne Jacques-Montilus, who passed away from breast cancer in late September.

Jacques-Montilus became the Minutemen's guardian angel, and her younger son, a player on a mission. Julian Montilus had a goal and an assist as Mendham blanked Toms River South, 4-0, to win its first NJSIAA Group III title.

"It's been unbelievable. What a year, especially for Julian," senior midfielder Christian Pedercini said. "His attitude's been amazing in each and every game. It's that little motivation, just to help him out. Not only do we help him, he helps us with his attitude, with his play. It really shows we are a family. We bring each other up. We play hard for each other all 80 minutes. It's unbelievable."

Junior Jared Beneducci scored Mendham's first and last goals, 11 minutes into the match and with 14 left to play. Beneducci's first came off a cross from Montilus. Pedercini gave the Minutemen a two-goal edge just six minutes later, bouncing a ball to the far post.

Montilus' goal came on a stellar individual play, stealing the ball from a Toms River South defender, and then faking out the goalkeeper before letting the shot roll in.

Long after his team had left Alumni Stadium, Mendham coach Russ Raffay held up the trophy and said, "This one goes to Julian's mom, without a doubt. I know she was watching over us today. Especially, her son was playing hurt. I don't know how he had the guts to do what he did, but I think he dug a little deeper."

Added Montilus, who had injured his ankle in the second half of Tuesday's semifinal and also had his knee wrapped, "Once we got that (goal), I felt like it was set in stone. ... For four years, I've been with these guys, and there was no doubt in my mind we were going to win a state championship. We just made history, and it's just amazing."

The Minutemen (18-5-1) got quite an education on their school's soccer tradition in the past couple of weeks. Long-time coach Bob Lash, former player Eric Mauriello, and all-time goal-scoring leader Casey Strange each talked to the current Mendham team. Mauriello held a newspaper photo of himself with his hands over his face after Mendham lost to Steinert in the Group III final in '88, and told the Minutemen, "Don't be this guy. We didn't play for 80 minutes. We played for 40 minutes. You play for 80 minutes."

Despite having 20 seniors, many of whom had played together for most of their lives, the Minutemen came into the championship match feeling a bit like underdogs, since they had lost two early games to Mount Olive and Delbarton. Three of Mendham's five losses came against the Green Wave, an NJAC-United opponent who won their NJSIAA Non-Public A title a week earlier.

After reading a newspaper report predicting Toms River South (21-4) would win on Sunday, the players noted, "They didn't play Delbarton."

Mendham didn't watch a lot of film of the Indians, just enough to be aware of defender Chris Kluxen's long throws and striker Cameron Geerinck. Mendham head coach Russ Raffay said junior Jack Chernow "had one job" to shut down Geerinck, who set Toms River South's record for goals in a season and had scored three times in the past two NJSIAA Tournament matches.

Senior goalkeeper Zach Bible made four second-half saves for his 14th shutout, and fourth in five postseason matches. Mendham allowed just one goal and scored 21 en route to the state title.

"(The team) meant everything to me," said Montilus, who had eight goals and an assist in five postseason matches.

"The Ridge game, after the day my mom died, was one of the most important games of my life. That was the climax of our season, and after that we just kept going. No matter what, we took it as a team. Amazing, just amazing, absolutely amazing, I've never felt anything like this before."

Staff Writer Jane Havsy: 973-428-6682; jhavsy@gannettnj.com; www.dailyrecord.com/writerjane/