Westfield Soccer Boys Review 2004

Look up the word frustration in the dictionary and you might find a photo of the 2004 Westfield Boys Soccer Team underneath. The perennially powerful Blue Devils were a mystifying 2-12-3 this season, and almost every team that played them left with the same question “How could such a talented team have this record?”.

Veteran coach George Kapner, who entered the season with a career mark of 172-60-22 over the previous thirteen seasons, was just as nonplussed as everyone else but continued to try and maintain a positive attitude around the team although he admitted it wasn’t always easy.

“At first, it was very difficult.,” said Kapner.
“As the injuries and losses mounted, focusing our time and energy on improving in small increments and competing effectively, creating smaller, attainable goals, gave us a focus that removed some of the frustration.”

Westfield’s first two games-a 0-0 tie with perennial power East Brunswick and a 1-0 loss at Group IV section champion Linden set a bad tone to the season.

In each game we played well only in spurts but still had great scoring
opportunities. Had we finished, I believe that our record would have been the opposite
of what it turned out to be.,” said Kapner.

Two late season games again Scotch Plains teams, Union Catholic and Scotch Plains Fanwood(SPF) perfectly epitomized the season. In the former, the Blue Devils were unable to hold a 1-0 second half lead in the first round of the Union County Tournament and lost to the then undefeated Terriers on a golden goal in overtime.

“I honestly believed, right up until they scored in overtime,
that we would win this game and that the victory would propel us all the way to
the final game of the tournament.,” said Kapner.

“ We played great, but UC played better. In the end, Summit's win in the first round over Linden had the effect that I was seeking for us, propelling them to the semi-finals.”

As tough as that loss was to take, it paled in comparison to the Blue Devils’ late season home match with arch rival SPF. Westfield played the heavily favored Raiders to a standstill and were inches away from winning the game late in regulation when Tom Taylor’s hard shot hit the post. Still, they were seconds away from a scoreless tie when Sean Young scored in the second overtime.

“This was probably the best game we played all year and, to be honest, proved to me that we had not played anywhere near our potential all year ,” said Kapner.

“Both of these games demonstrate a coaching maxim that I absolutely believe in ,” said Kapner.
“Winning teaches you how to win and losing teaches you how to lose. Both UC and
SPF won our games because they believed that they would!”

The Blue Devils’ weakness was easy to pinpoint. They were able to score only ten goals the entire year which left Kapner dumbfounded.

“I really have no idea why we couldn’t score. I know that we did not possess the ball enough during games, but we still created opportunities in almost every match. I saw chances missed this year that baffled me. I have always said that great finishers are
born, not made, but I've never had a team that had no finishers. Next year, I
have vowed to spend more time, personally, with my forwards since finishing was
my best skill when I played.”

Through all the misery, there were two shining lights, one present, the other future.
“(Goalie) Jeff Greenlaw was the saving grace of this team.
The defense in front of him was in a constant state of flux due to injuries and
formation changes during the season. The biggest losses that this team
suffered were injuries to Kyle Fleming and Jeff Thomashow, who would have been the
very center of our defense. I believe that we would have been much more
successful if they had not missed the bulk of the season ,” said Kapner.

While the varsity struggled the junior varsity was nearly perfect, going undefeated and sharing the Union County championship with Scotch Plains.
“Alex Schmidt, did a phenomenal job. Obviously, he helped teach these young men how to win. Coupled with the four sophomores on the varsity and hoping that everyone stays healthy , I believe that the JV success this year bodes well for the varsity
next year ,” said Kapner.

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