Former Crusader, MLS Star Turns to Coaching with NY Cosmos

Alecko Eskandarian, a former professional soccer player, has joined the NY Cosmos as an assistant coach.

After sweeping his way into the Bergen Catholic record books, New Jersey native Alecko Eskandarian has returned home to the Garden State after years of playing professional soccer on the West Coast. His career sidelined by injuries, the Mahwah resident will now take his experience as an athlete and help lead others as the newest assistant coach of the New York Cosmos. The return home also has an added special meaning as Eskandarian's father, Andranik played for the original Cosmos in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The elder Eskandarian's career allowed for the family to immigrate from Iran to New Jersey. "Soccer has been an instrumental part of my life since I was a baby," Eskandarian said. "I was born into it and grew up watching the …

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Lionel Messi Leads Argentina Into New Jersey

The world's best futball player and his national squad hold open practice at the home of the New York Red Bulls ahead of Saturday match with Brazil.

Thousands of futball fans filed into Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday night as the world's best player and his Argentinian national team prepped for a Saturday showdown with rival Brazil. Lionel Messi, the three-time defending FIFA player of the year, scored once on a header in the half-pitch intrasquad scrimmage as fans hung on his every move. Messi, who stars for Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga, did not disappoint, flashing the speed and power that have many in the sport heralding him as one of the best to ever play the game. He showed off the pinpoint accuracy of his feared left foot during a shooting drill that ended the practice session, beating the Argentina keeper on two shots that bent into the bottom right corner from about…

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State Wrap

Deptford Murder, State Revenue Shortfall Top NJ News

A weekly look at news in New Jersey

A family argument led to the murder of a Deptford man early Friday morning, according to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. Chad Gatewood, 45, and his nephew, Elijah P. Gatewood-Gabriel, 20, allegedly got in a confrontation around midnight, when Gatewood stabbed Gatewood-Gabriel multiple times with a kitchen knife in the family's apartment, GCPO spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld said. Tax collections in New Jersey are running $230 million behind Gov. Chris Christie's projections after April revenue came up short, according to a state Treasury report released Tuesday. If the trend continues, Christie and lawmakers may have to revise their plans to cut taxes, or they may have to find other places to trim the budget. [Inquirer] Princeton …

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County Tournaments in Full Swing Sunday

Field hockey is home in opening round; girls soccer is in Round of 16

In most places Sunday is a day of rest, but at River Dell it will be a day of activity as the third seeded field hockey squad and 11th seeded girls soccer take to the field in the Bergen County Tournament. Coming off their stunning shut-out over Wayne Valley on Tuesday and a 2-0 rout of Hackensack on Thursday, the field hockey squad (4-5-1) is set to take on a familiar foe - the Demarest Norsewomen, seeded sixth, at 10am in Oradell. These two teams met in September with River Dell coming out on top, 4-1. The prize for winning is a semifinals date against Northern Highlands who trounced the Lady Hawks, 5-0 in the second game of the season. Frankie Maier led her Lady Hawks on the pitch against Waldwick in the opening round, 2-0 to advance …

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Paladins Dominate in Battle of Route 17

For the second time this season, Bergen Catholic has fallen to their neighboring foe

To call the Crusaders season on the pitch a rollercoaster this season would be an understatement - the struggling team now sits with a 4-6-1 record after their disappointing 5-2 loss to neighboring Paramus Catholic. This was the second time that Bergen has fallen to the Paladins. "We did not play well today at all," BC coach Rui Dos Santos said. In 11 games to date, the Crusaders have netted 26 goals, gone to overtime four times including a heavily fought no-score draw with Don Bosco and competed against three out of state high schools. In the same amount of time, Bergen has given up 20 goals, nine of which have been to Paramus Catholic. The Crusaders had several chances in the first half on behalf of Erick Alonso, but the young sophomore …

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Late Goal Knocks Off Lady Hawks

Inability to finish and a late score by Pascack Valley results in home loss for River Dell

ORADELL—The chances were there, but the Lady Hawks were just unable to finish. “We did very well in the first 10 minutes of the first half,” head coach Steve Grenz said, “and the last 10 minutes of the second half.” River Dell (2-2) owned possession, controlled the ball well through the midfield and attacked, but came up empty each time. Grenz wasn’t thrilled with the team’s shot selection. “In the last 18,” Grenz said, “the shots were from a distance or weren’t from the right spot. “We just didn’t have the extra girls coming up,” he added. “We’ve worked on this stuff [in practice] and when we get in a game, sometimes we forget. We’re a young team still.” Seton-Hall bound Frankie Maier summed it up best: “It just came down to that one …

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Sluggish Start Dooms River Dell Soccer

After defeating PV, sluggish Hawks lose big to Tenafly.

ORADELL— After disposing of Pascack Valley 3-1 on Monday night, the River Dell boys soccer team ascended to No.7 in The Record’s Top 25 poll. “They wake up today and see the ranking—which they earned,” head coach Kevin Sabella said. “And they got all excited. “Our heads were a bit inflated,” said senior fullback Chris Bascomb. The Hawks followed up the impressive victory with a sub-par practice. “Flat” was the word Sabella used to describe Tuesday night’s run through.   “We had probably one of our worst practices [Tuesday] and that starts from the top with me,” the coach added. In Wednesday’s home matchup against rival Tenafly (2-4), the Hawks looked sluggish and were far from the top of their game. “To be at the top,” Sabella said, “we’ve…

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Bergen and Bosco Play To Scoreless Draw

In their first meeting of the season, the two sides played a hard fought, double OT match in Oradell.

ORADELL— Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic played 110 minutes of hard fought, physical soccer, with both teams pressuring and creating chances—but neither side was able to find the back of the net. “I thought we had the better opportunities,” said BC’s second year head coach Rui DosSantos. “We just need to be a little more composed in the goal and finish.” Both teams rifled numerous shots at the opposing goal—at times, seemingly back and forth—some on target, others going off the mark. Several chances for both squads were spoiled due to players being caught offside. Both keepers—Jack Power (DB) and Trevor Nicol (BC)—were superb in front of the net, and came up with some big stops throughout. When asked if a tie is better than a loss, …

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Eamon Harbord

1:04 pm on Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hi DBP Soccer Mom, While no one can know what Alonso's intent was, I hope that Kilgore and Albarran will recover from their injuries. We wish both young men speedy recoveries and a safe season.   more ›

Hawks Bounce Back To Win Home Opener

River Dell defeats Mahwah 2-1

ORADELL--River Dell boys soccer coach Kevin Sabella felt his team's home opener against Mahwah on Monday was an extension of the season opener versus Indian Hills that took place over the weekend. Sabella liked the way the Hawks played against the Braves, despite his side coming away with a 2-1 loss after conceding the winning goal with 25 seconds remaining. "We came back Sunday and had a nice little practice," Sabella said after the game. "And everything started clicking today." After having trouble burying chances against Indian Hills, River Dell (1-1-0) scored two first half goals—including one in the first two minutes—to beat Mahwah 2-1 at home on the grass field on a warm Monday afternoon.  Senior co-captain Craig Marullis put the …

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Lady Hawks Return to the Pitch

River Dell Girls Soccer hope that retooled offense will lead to more goals.

River Dell girls soccer coach Steve Grenz admits his team had trouble scoring last year. Having graduated six seniors, who were "the heart of the team," Grenz expects his returning starters--as well as the newcomers-- to step up. “I'm looking for everyone to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Grenz, who is entering his ninth year at the helm. That sentiment goes not only for his forwards, but his midfielders as well. Grenz added that the team's biggest strength is the offense and liked what he has seen in practice. "I like our offense," the coach said. "I want to see what it can do against varsity level defenses.” River Dell finished 9-7-2 last season. The Lady Hawks were eliminated by Ramsey in the opening round of the North 1, …

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