Boys Soccer: 2019 GMC Player of the Year and other postseason honors - nj.com

GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE POSTSEASON HONORS

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jake Stump, South Brunswick, Sr.

The ultimate team success may have eluded Jake Stump during his career at South Brunswick.

But this 6-2, athletic striker achieved just about every individual goal that was put in front of him, realistic or not, when his career began.

Stump became South Brunswick’s all-time leading scorer this season and capped off his career as one of the most accomplished players in Middlesex County history with his third straight 20-plus goal season for the Vikings.

A year after playing a significant role on legitimate state championship-caliber team, Stump was one of the few returning players this year for a South Brunswick team that figured to take a step back.

But Stump still went for a career-high 26 goals and six assists — finishing his stellar career with 77 goals and 21 assists — to get South Brunswick back into the GMC Tournament championship for the fifth straight season.

Stump played in four county championship games during his time at South Brunswick, but the Vikings went 0-3-1 in those games. South Brunswick’s season ended in a first-round loss on the road against Princeton in the Central Jersey, Group 4 state tournament.

But even those losses can't deter or undermine the career Stump compiled.

East Brunswick beats South Brunswick for boys soccer GMC title on penalty kicks — Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
East Brunswick coach Terry McKibbin holds up the Greater Middlesex Conference trophy. Greater Middlesex Conference boys soccer tournament final with South Brunswick vs East Brunswick with the game held at Sayreville War Memorial High School. Thursday October 24, 2019. (Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media)

TEAM OF THE YEAR: East Brunswick

Like South Brunswick, this was expected to be somewhat of a rebuilding year for East Brunswick, one season after winning a GMC Tournament title and a Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional title.

It wasn't.

With new pieces all over the field, East Brunswick found its form in the middle of the season and progressed into one of the GMC’s best teams, winning a second straight GMCT title in penalties over rival South Brunswick.

Ryan McSwieney, one of the few returners from that iconic 2018 East Brunswick team, led the charge out of the back as one of the best keepers in New Jersey this season, while Andre Shelton, Srihari Sudhir, Anthony Rappa and a collection of other players carried the pace in the field.

East Brusnwick reached the Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional quarterfinals as a No. 7-seed, falling to eventual champion Hunterdon Central.

COACH OF THE YEAR: Eric Halpern, Middlesex

The soccer landscape in Middlesex County has long been controlled by the Group 4 powers of the Red Division.

Under Eric Halpern, Middlesex bucked that trend this season.

Middlesex (16-4-2) won a competitive Gold Division title in the GMC this season and made an unprecedented run into the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament semifinals before falling to longstanding power South Brunswick.

Middlesex beat rival Highland Park twice to take over the reigns in the Gold Division and won GMC Tournament games over Perth Amboy, Edison and South Plainfield before falling to South Brunswick in the semifinals.

Middlesex’s run in the state tournament ended prematurely in the Central Jersey, Group 2 quarterfinals as the No. 2-seed against No. 7-seed Manville.

NOT FORGOTTEN: Monroe may have been the best team in Middlesex County, but things just never materialized.

Monroe delivered a monumental win over Montclair on the road in late September and a lineup that featured Christian Bernal, Jared Krasnove and Josh Cruz was as dangerous as any team in the GMC this season.

Monroe fell in penalties to New Brunswick in the quarterfinals of the GMC Tournament before a stunning loss to West Windsor-Plainsboro South as the No. 3-seed in the first round of the Central Jersey, Group 4 state tournament.

BIG SEASON IN NEW BRUNSWICK: Yefry Rodriguez was one of the GMC’s top players again this season, compiling a career-high 24 goals for New Brunswick.

THIRD TIME IN THE CHARM: North Brunswick finally got the best of White Division rival New Brunswick in the state tournament, collecting a 1-0 first round win in Central Jersey, Group 4 after dropping the two meetings in the regular season.

EDISON THRIVES AS THE UNDERDOG: Edison was one of the best stories out of the GMC in the state tournament, making an improbable run to the Central Jersey, Group 4 semifinals. Edison took out Hillsborough, 2-1, in the first round before a 2-1 win over West Windsor South as the favorite in the second round to play its way into the sectional semifinals.

Brian Deakyne may be reached at bdeakyne@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrianDeakyne. Like NJ.com High School Sports on Facebook.

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