Foster’s overtime header lifts Schalick over Wildwood to give Mannella his 300th career coaching victory – a Salem County soccer first
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WILDWOOD – Joe Mannella had been anticipating the event for weeks now, not that he was counting down the days or anything, and when the moment finally arrived Wednesday with all its celebration he almost couldn’t find the words.
Brad Foster headed home a corner kick from Jaxon Weber seven minutes into the first overtime Wednesday to give Schalick to a 3-2 victory over Wildwood and hand its head coach his 300th career coaching victory.
Mannella, in his 22nd season, is the first soccer coach in Salem County history and 59th in the state to record 300 boys-only varsity victories.
“It’s an overtime goal, it’s golden goal, so the kids are all celebrating,” Mannella said. “A couple ran over to me right away, but most of them just celebrated with each other. I just kind of sat there almost like I was watching the ending of a good movie. It was almost like an out-of-body experience. Not everybody gets to live this.
“From being able to coach where you were born and grew up and went to school and played yourself, I can’t imagine doing it any other way. There are so many things in this world that don’t go your way, I couldn’t have written a better script. I feel very fortunate to live this fairy tale.”
Mannella came into the season needing seven wins for the milestone. The Cougars (7-1) put him on the verge with a 5-0 win over Penns Grove Monday.
When Foster banged home the game-winner, the players raced to the corner flag and celebrated. They had something for their coach. They gave him a traditional ice bucket bath – he anticipated it and brought an extra change of clothes – sprayed him with silly string and presented him with balloons and a commemorative “300 Wins” soccer ball.
“It was a nice feeling seeing Coach get his big 300, especially since not a lot of coaches have that big number,” Foster said. “It’ll be a great memory.”
Tributes poured in after Mannella reached the milestone. His phone was full of text messages from former players, current teachers and family members. Among the well-wishers was good friend Darren Huck, the Woodstown coach. Huck is in line to become the next Salem County coach to reach 300, needing seven to hit the milestone after his team’s win at Pennsville Wednesday.
“He is Schalick soccer,” Huck said after learning of the Cougars’ result after his team’s game. “When you think of Schalick soccer you think of him. As a player and now a coach he’s had tremendous success.
“Good coaches know the game, good coaches know how to handle multiple personalties on a team and that type of thing, but he has it all. He knows his players, he has a system in place. Kudos to him.”
Luke Price scored the Cougars’ first two goals. He got the first on a header three minutes into the match and the game-tying goal on a run from midfield with four minutes left in the first half. NuNu Bedderi gave the Warriors the lead with two goals in between.
“It’s an amazing feeling, just that I contributed to the game also,” Price said. “We just kept fighting. We just had one goal and that was to win for Coach. Just knowing that my coach got 300 wins in his high school coaching career is a great feeling. As a player you have trust in him and you know he’s going to lead you on the right path.”
The teams played an even second half although Schalick, the South Jersey Group I power points leader, had the best of the play. Cougars goalie Evan Sepers made a spectacular save in overtime to keep the dream alive.
“A lot of guys contributed to this,” Mannella said. “They had a lot of fun. The bus ride was fun. I think they enjoyed being part of it as much as I was experiencing this. I’m looking forward to more wins with these guys.”
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