Halloween has arrived in a year that has been anything but normal.
Typically, tomorrow would be a day where children can dress up to be like any superhero they want. That may not happen due to widespread concern of the coronavirus.
But that hasnt stopped some boys soccer players from playing like superheroes across New Jersey this season. With Halloween ready to wrap up October, and the first complete month of the high school soccer season, NJ Advance Media is ready to unveil its own Superhero Squad: boys soccer style.
Meet this years impressive lineup:
Ant-Man: Lucas Sample of New Egypt. (Phil McAuliffe | For the Times of Trenton and Zade Rosenthal.. Marvel 2014
Sample may not be ant-sized, but he is a younger player that has delivered in a big way for New Egypt this season. Sample, a sophomore, has risen his play this season and has led the Warriors' attack with 12 goals and two assists in eight games.
Aquaman: Owen Neubart, Glen Rock. (Photos by Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media and Mark Graves/The Oregonian)
Sure, Neubart cant breathe underwater or communicate with fish, but this sophomore plays with a level of toughness that even Aquaman cant look past. Neubart has stepped into a major scoring role for undefeated Glen Rock this season and has nine goals with the first month of the season not yet completed.
Batman: Asembo Augo (Photos by Lori M. Nichols for NJ Advance Media and Ron Phillips/Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures/MCT)
Augo is the hero that Oakcrest deserves especially for a team that has overachieved in every sense of the word this season. When Oakcrest puts out its bat signal, you know Augo (13 goals, five assists) is going to be there to answer the call.
Captain America: Lucas Ross. (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and Zade Rosenthal.. Marvel 2016)
Ross wasnt biologically enhanced like Captain America, but dont tell that to the defenders that try to stop him. After leading Seton Hall Prep to a Non-Public A title last season, Ross a freshly-minted North Carolina commit has gone back to work to lead the Pirates in 2020. He has four goals and three assists this year.
Cyborg: C.J. Colt. (Photos by Larry Murphy | For NJ Advance Media and Courtesy of Warner Bros. Picture)
Colt wasnt mechanically built like Cyborg, but he certainly has the strength of him. A physical, dominant center back, Colt has anchored the back line for Hopewell Valley this season and is always up for the challenge in a big game.
Daredevil: Darren Lewis, West Orange. (Photo by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com and)
O.K., Lewis isnt blind like Daredevil, but he has the awareness and senses like him. Always around the ball, always involved in the attack, always one step ahead of the opposition, Lewis has nine goals for the No. 15-ranked Mountaineers this season.
Flash: Christian Ball. (Photos by Al Amrhein | For NJ Advance Media and NHorsley | Fame Fly Net pictures)
Dont blink, you might miss him. Like The Flash, few players are as lightning quick and agile as Ball in the attacking third. The junior has four goals and three assists for Haddonfield and is as good getting the ball forward as any player in New Jersey.
Gambit: Tabi Essa. (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and James Fisher | 2009 Marvel Characters, Inc. and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporations)
Gambit charges enemies with energy and uses them as weapons to take down his adversaries. Essa, a key, versatile player for Monroe this season, has employed a similar strategy this season, using his conditioning and work ethic to break down opponents. Essa has five goals and four assists this year for Monroe, the best team in Middlesex County.
Green Lantern: Eryk Dymora. (Photos by Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media and Warner Bros. Pictures)
The Green Lantern gets his power from his ring and Dymora already has one of those. After leading Clifton to a Group 4 title last November, Dymora has been nearly unbeatable this year as Clifton has shut out eight straight teams after a 2-1 season-opening win over Passaic.
Hawkeye: Brett Sieg. (Photos by Tom Horak | NJ Advance Media and Jay Maidment..Marvel 2015)
Just like Hawkeye, when Sieg locks on to a target, nothing is going to keep him away. Sieg, the veteran of this CBA team, has a team-leading five goals and three assists. And as the state tournament approaches, CBA is surprise, surprise playing as good as any team.
Human Torch: Jimmy Gonzalez. (Photos by Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media and AP Photo | Twentieth Century Fox)
Once Gonzalez got going this season, there was no stopping him. Hes been on fire like the Human Torch and has scored in all but two games for Passaic this season. His 21 goals ranks tied for the most in New Jersey.
Iceman: Jake Sweeney. (Photos by Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media and Alan Markfield | Twentieth Century Fox)
Sweeney cant shoot ice out of his hands, but he might be able to out of his feet. When Bergen Catholic needs a big goal, Sweeney is there to answer the call, time and time again. Sweeney has 14 goals for the Crusaders this season and has proven to be the go-to guy for coach Pete Berkanish.
Ironman: J.R. Cima. (Photos by Lori Nichols | NJ Advance Media and Industrial Light & Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Cima doesnt need a high-tech to be a do-it-all force for Washington Township. In what was supposed to be a rebuild, Cima has been the ultimate team player, fading back into the midfield to help distribute the ball through the middle for a surging Minutemen team. If its a big game for Washington Township, expect Cima to be in there for 80 minutes or more.
Peter Quill: Danny Bensch. (Photos by Tom Horak | For NJ Advance Media and Film Frame..Marvel Studios 2017)
Much like Peter Quill makes the Guardians of the Galaxy roll, Bensch is there to make sure Notre Dame continues to move forward. He was a big player under Dan Donigan last season and has been an even bigger player, a year older, under P.J. Barrett this season. Bensch has been involved in almost every goal for the Irish this season.
Robin: Tristan Sampedro: (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and DC Entertainment)
Sampedro doesnt play second-fiddle to anyone at Pingry (and how could he, as a battle-tested, seasoned veteran), but he has no problem succeeding behind the scenes for his teammates. It was Sampedro, after all, that delivered the set piece that led Pingry to a last-second win over Hunterdon Central earlier this year. He has nine goals and six assists through Pingrys first eight games as the Big Blue eye another state title run this November.
Spiderman: Mathew Giraldo. (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and Warner Bros. Entertainment Ic., Ratpac-Dune Entertainment LLC and Ratpac Entertainment, LLC)
Giraldo isnt scaling any buildings in Elizabeth, but he probably could if he wanted to. Quick and nearly unstoppable on the ball, Giraldo is the friendly neighborhood goal scorer for the Minutemen unless youre trying to defend him. He has four goals and two assists through the first month of the season for Elizabeth this year.
Superman: Micaah Garnette. (Photos by Scott Faytok | For NJ Advance Media and Clay Enos/ TM & DC Comics)
Its a bird. Its a plane. No, its Garnette coming to save the day again for Gill St. Bernards. Garnette was good last year, when he scored 30 goals for the Knights in a record-breaking year, but hes been even better this year. Garnette has 12 goals and 11 assists for No. 2-ranked Gill St. Bernards this season, despite facing insane man-markings and defensive pressure.
The Hulk: Ralph Russo. (Photos by Keith Muccilli | NJ Advance Media and Thomas Ondrey | The Plain Dealer)
Sure, Russos skin isnt turning green anytime soon but hes certainly an incredible hulk along the back line for Hunterdon Central. Russo doesnt just have the physical ability to lock down even the states best scorers, but he has the tenacity to go on the attack and score on the offensive end, too.
Thor: Ahmad Brock. (Photos by Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media and Film Frame..Marvel Studios 2017)
Thor is the god of thunder in Norse mythology and Brock certainly brings the thunder for Egg Harbor. As good a finisher as youll find in South Jersey, and even beyond that, Brock is no player a defender wants to cross when hes going for goal. Brock has 16 goals through Egg Harbors first eight games this year.
Venom: Kendall Marin. (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and Sony Pictures)
Sure, Marin doesnt go around eating opponents heads off, but if youre in his way of scoring a goal, you might want to get out of the way. Marin was a goal scoring machine for Manville last season and has been even better this year and he has no issue raising the intensity of Manville is in need of a score.
Wolverine: Zach Orrico. (Photos by Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media and James Fisher | 2009 Marvel Characters, Inc. and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporations)
Orrico doesnt have claws like Wolverine, but hes as tough as him. What he may lack in size of a typical striker, he makes up for in work ethic and technical skills. Orrico has battled some intense defensive pressure early this season but has picked himself off the turf (or muddy grass at home) whenever hes knocked down. Orrico won a Shore Conference Tournament title last season and will look to win a state title this November to cap off his high school career.
Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne.
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Superhero Squad: N.J. boys soccer players with powers that go beyond in 2020 - nj.com
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