(Central New Jersey)—Real Central NJ Soccer’s men’s team plays its fourth USL League Two home opener against Lehigh Valley United at 7 PM on Wednesday, May 22, at Rider University's Ben Cohen Field. USL2 is the country's highest-level amateur men’s soccer league, with teams primarily fielding high-level collegiate athletes.
Head Coach, Brian Woods, leads the team alongside Assistant Coach Nick LaBracca, an MLS veteran and 2011 All-Star. They continue to bring high-level amateur soccer to the Mercer County community. “It's something that people care about and see the value in,” said Coach Woods. “People need to know it’s a place for serious players and players who want to compete at a high level.”
The RCNJ Men’s team has a ton of returning talent this season, including Justin Brunow, the first men’s player to be with the club's USL2 team for all four years of its existence. The Hamilton native and LaSalle graduate played sixty matches during college and was a core piece of the LaSalle program. Playing in thirty-two of RCNJ’s forty-two league games since the debut season in 2021, Brunow has become a fan favorite and a staple of RCNJ soccer.
Among that talent is the returning RCNJ captain, Stephen Duncan. Duncan is a third-year defender who has anchored the defensive line and been a pivotal piece to the team since his first season. Away from RCNJ, he played twenty-four games for Princeton University in two years and has become a trusted and beloved member of both teams.
Another third-year returnee is Cole Sotack. The Rutgers University-New Brunswick alumnus played fifty games for the Scarlet Knights and was a cornerstone of their defense — and alongside Duncan, he is a pivotal piece of the RCNJ defensive line as well. Since he is known for his impressive stamina, it will be interesting to see how many minutes he will play this season.
“The fact they want to come back is a testament to what we do at the club and how much we care about the team,” Coach Woods said in regards to the returning numbers for this season.
“It’s hard to get guys who want to come back and care about the team. I’m excited for them to want to wear the badge as much as they do.”
Also returning is the first MLS Draft Pick who had played for the RCNJ USL2 side, Stas Korzeniowski, will also be returning this season. The Pennington graduate and University of Pennsylvania rising senior was chosen by the Philadelphia Union in the second round of the MLS Super Draft. He won the USL2 2023 title with Ballard FC.
Besides the RCNJ old guard, the team features several new players, including Rutger’s Curt Calov who played with Korzeniowski and Duncan at PDA. Also new is international player Enzo Cozzi, who won the 2023 NAIA title with MidAmerica Nazarene (Kansas). Several other internationals joining the squad this year include Hugo Cakurda (Montevallo), Charlie Hare (St. Peter), and Bermuda U23 Men’s National Goalkeeper Andrew Kempe (Temple).
Come out and support the RCNJ Men’s squad against Lehigh Valley United as they look to get a game back after their 4-0 loss to Philadelphia Lone Star FC this past weekend at Widener University.
To stay updated on all things RCNJ Soccer, follow the Instagram and Facebook accounts and check out the RCNJ Soccer website for tickets, schedules, rosters, and more.
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