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 (Photo by Bill Allen/NJ SportAction) caption:
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Diligent Training Paying Big Dividends As Hun Boys' Soccer Off to Hot Start
By Bill Alden
Even though the Hun School boys' soccer had cruised to victory in seven of its first eight games this fall, there was no chance that it would rest on its laurels coming into its clash with Lawrenceville School last Saturday.
The Raiders hit the pitch at Lawrenceville with fire in their eyes, scoring twice in the first 5:17 of the contest on goals by Matt Miller and Ryan Putman. Hun built its lead to 3-0 when Mike Williams added another goal later in the half.
After allowing a Lawrenceville goal early in the second half, the Raiders responded with a Josh Harris score and then shut down the the Big Red to head home with a sweet 4-1 lead.
In reflecting on the win, Hun head coach Chris Kingston wasn't surprised at how fast his team got out of the gate against Lawrenceville.
"When you're doing well as a team, you get worried as a coach that they will start feeling too good about themselves and come out a little flat," said Kingston. "We didn't have that problem at all last Saturday. They guys were definitely up for Lawrenceville."
For Kingston, the sparkling play of his veteran side has been a joy to behold. "It's been fun to watch these guys, it makes my job easier," added Kingston, who is in his third year coaching the Raiders. "Sometimes the plays that haven't resulted in goals have been the prettiest."
Senior striker Miller has provided some of the prettiest work for the Raiders last Saturday. "Matt just raises the level of his game when we play Lawrenceville, I can't explain it," said Kingston of Miller, who has five goals and three assists so far this season.
"It seems like he's dancing with the ball when we play them. The footwork, the touches were all flawless. He's a target for us up top and we expect him to distribute the ball when there is a guy on his back."
The brilliance exhibited in games by Miller and other key players like seniors Scott Loesser, Adam Kotchin, Matt Care, Jon D'Angelo, Kevin Michel, junior Putman, and sophomore Matt Sanford, starts in training sessions.
"The leadership is key and it shows up in the way they practice and prepare," explained Kingston. "The practices are just as intense as the games. The will to prepare is as important to these players as the will to win."
The Raiders focus on scrimmaging in their practice sessions and Kingston said that has helped sharpen their competitiveness and fitness.
"We have a lot of small, side games at practice, the players want to win every game," said Kingston. "When we have those games, the losers have to do sprints. Often the winners will do the sprints too because they want to improve their conditioning."
The team is driven by a desire to reach the heights of Prep A power St. Benedict's, which is ranked as one of the best prep sides in the country and beat Hun 6-3 in the state Prep A finals last year on the way to its 12th straight state prep crown.
Hun was slated to play at St. Benedict's on October 12 before road games at Blair Academy on October 16 and at Rutgers Prep on October 19.
"They talk about it every other day," said Kingston, referring to the loss last season to the Gray Bees. "We have a lot of respect for them. We love the way they play. I hope they have a little respect for us."
If the Raiders can keep playing with the fire and skill they showed last Saturday, they will be earning respect from quite a few teams this fall.
