Noam Boys Soccer Team Enjoying a Stellar Inaugural Season

The following article, which appears in the current edition of The Jewish Link of Bergen County, marks my first foray into the wonderful world of sports reporting:

NOAM BOYS SOCCER TEAM ENJOYING A STELLAR INAUGURAL SEASON

By: N. Aaron Troodler

It may be the first time in its history that Yeshivat Noam has fielded a boys’ soccer team, but this group of 6th, 7th and 8th graders are playing like a bunch of seasoned veterans.

Under the tutelage of Coaches Benjamin Book and Ehud Adler, both of whom are Yeshivat Noam graduates, the Noam boys’ soccer team is having an inaugural season for the ages. They began the season a perfect 6-0, with wins over Yavneh, Kushner, Ben Porat Yosef, and Hillel. After a 4-2 win over Yavneh to open the season, the Noam boys’ soccer team went on a remarkable run over the next five games, during which they outscored their opponents by a combined score of 30-0.

During that incredible stretch, they benefitted from the outstanding play of goalkeeper Avraham Kahan, who has quickly proven to be among the elite goalies in the league. Spectacular play from the starters Yonadav Rimberg, Natan Neugroschl, Dylan Breen, and Natan Rifkind, and from the second line of Yechiel Keiser, Joe Baron, Ozzie Jeselsohn, and Zachary Wolf, helped propel the team to its historic start. Key contributions were also made by Noam Troodler, Yonatan Naor, Daniel Dresdner, Eitan Weisrose, Uli Weisrose, Ehud Meir, and backup goalie Jake Rothenberg.

On Tuesday night, May 19, the Noam boys’ soccer team welcomed a formidable Moriah team into their home gym in Paramus. It was evident from the outset that it was going to be a highly competitive contest. The game was scoreless though most of the 1st period, until Moriah struck first by scoring a goal with 1:26 left in the period. Noam came back to tie the game at 1-1 when Yonadav Rimberg scored off an assist from Natan Neugroschl with just 16 seconds left in the 1st period. After a scoreless 2nd period, which featured terrific play from Noam goalie Avraham Kahan and Moriah goalie Isaac Froman, the two teams entered the locker room at halftime with the score knotted at 1 goal apiece.

The 3rd period featured some superb play from Moriah, which was led by Benny Matheson and Zali Tollinsky. With 6:34 left in the 3rd period, Moriah’s goalie got the ball to Matheson, who put it in the net with a nice header to give Moriah a 2-1 lead. Just two minutes later, with 4:37 left in the period, Moriah scored again to increase its lead to 3-1. With 2:26 left in the 3rd period, Matheson struck again and scored to extend the Moriah lead to 4-1.

Despite facing a 3-goal deficit, the Noam boys were not ready to go down without a fight. With just 18 seconds left in the 3rd period, Yechiel Keiser scored for Noam to make it a 4-2 game. Keiser scored his second goal of the game off of an assist from Joe Baron with 3:24 left in the 4th period to trim the Moriah lead to 4-3. During the final moments of the game, Noam tried to capitalize on several opportunities and tie the game, but solid play by the Moriah defense and stellar goalkeeping by Froman sealed Moriah’s 4-3 win.

Just two nights after its first loss of the season, Noam traveled to Yavneh and bounced back with a big 7-1 win. With a record of 7-1, Noam remains atop the standings in first place. With its high-powered offense, strong defense, and extraordinary goalkeeping, the Noam boys’ soccer team is going to be a force to be reckoned with as it prepares for its playoff run.