“Marcus and Carl were big, dominant athletic guys who were just tremendous last year, but I think we’re still really good,” said Nevins. “We can’t physically overwhelm on corners and set pieces, but we have a lot of talented players back who gained a lot of experience as sophomores and juniors.”

In front of Arrieta are a formidable core 4 of defenders led by junior left back Damian Aviles, who came back to high school ball after playing for Ironbound Next; junior left center back Chase Winds, junior Aidan Ackermann, a converted forward, at right center back, and senior quad captain Niko Chiovaro at right back.

Senior quad captain Darius Millington, who had two goals in last year’s state final, is a veteran standout as an attacking midfielder, and he remains dangerous up top along with standout forwards in senior Yenke Suarez (12 goals, 5 assists) and junior Damian Aviles (10 assists).
Senior quad captain Vargas Espino is terrific in serving up free kicks.

Simply put the talent level remains at a very high level for West Orange, including with high ceilings certainly there for juniors such as midfielder Marcus Williams (11 goals, 5 assists), Aviles and Winds.

“We’ve played some really good teams this season and I really like my team, but we still have to continue to out there and perform at a high level,” said Nevins. “We’re excited about competing in an always-very challenging Essex County Tournament and then we’ll try and defend our Group 4 title.”

2026 Essex County Tournament:
Key Dates: Preliminary round: Oct. 13, first round, Oct. 17 and quarterfinals, Oc.t 20, all at higher seed; semifinals: Saturday, Oct. 24, and final: 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 28, at Caldwell.

51 Essex County Boys Soccer Tournament Finals:
2025: St. Bendict's 1 West Orange 0
2024: St. Benedict’s 4 Seton Hall Prep 1
2023: Seton Hall Prep 2 Montclair 1
2022: Seton Hall Prep 2 East Side 1
2021: Seton Hall Prep 2 West Orange 0
2020: no tournament due to covid
2019: Seton Hall Prep 1 Montclair 0
2018: Montclair 0 Seton Hall Prep 0 (Montclair wins on PK’s)
2017: Seton Hall Prep 2 Millburn 1 (in 2 OTs)
2016: East Side 4 Seton Hall Prep 0
2015: Seton Hall Prep 1 Livingston 0
2014: Livingston 1 Seton Hall Prep 0
2013: Montclair 1 Millburn 0
2012: Millburn 2 West Orange 0
2011: Seton Hall Prep 3 Livingston 0
2010: Seton Hall Prep 2 West Orange 1
2009: Seton Hall Prep 0 Millburn 0 (co-champions)
2008: Millburn 6 Columbia 1
2007: Millburn 3 Columbia 1
2006: West Orange 4 Seton Hall Prep 1
2005: St. Benedict’s Prep 7 Columbia 0
2004: Montclair 3 West Orange 1
2003: Montclair 1 West Orange 1 (co-champions)
2002: Montclair 3 West Orange 2 (in 2 OTs)
2001: St. Benedict’s Prep 3 Seton Hall Prep 1
2000: West Essex 2 Montclair 0
1999: Montclair 2 MKA 2 (co-champions)
1998: Columbia 1 Montclair 1 (co-champions)
1997: Columbia 1 Montclair 1 (co-champions)
1996: Montclair 2 Columbia 0
1995: Livingston 2 Montclair 1
1994: Millburn 3 West Essex 3 (co-champions)
1993: Columbia 3 Montclair 1
1992: St. Benedict’s Prep 1 Columbia 0
1991: Columbia 3 Montclair 0
1990: St. Benedict’s Prep 3 Columbia 2 (in 2 OTs)
1989: St. Benedict’s Prep 1 Columbia 0
1988: Columbia 2 St. Benedict’s Prep 0
1987: St. Benedict’s Prep 2 Montclair 0
1986: Millburn 1 Columbia 0
1985: Columbia 2 Montclair 1 (in 2 OTs)
1984: Columbia 1 Livingston 1 (co-champions)
1983: Columbia 3 Bloomfield 1
1982: Millburn 2 Columbia 0
1981: Columbia 1 Verona 1 (co-champions)
1980: Columbia 0 Bloomfield 0 (co-champions)
1979: Columbia 1 Bloomfield 0
1978: East Side 0 Vailsburg 0 (ES wins on PK’s)
1977: Columbia 3 Livingston 0
1976: Verona 4 Bloomfield 0
1975: Columbia 1 Livingston 0
1974: Bloomfield 2 Caldwell 0

Most Titles:
Columbia 13
Montclair 9
Seton Hall Prep 9
St. Benedict’s 8
Millburn 7

Consecutive Titles:
Montclair 4 (1996-99)
Seton Hall Prep 4 *(2019-2023)

Most Final Appearances:
Columbia 22
Montclair 15

Most Consecutive Finals:
Seton Hall Prep 10 (2014-2024)
*no tournament in 2020-covid                              

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