As the leaves changed and the temperatures cooled, the Caldwell boys and girls soccer teams practiced and played in several games throughout the season. The boys soccer team finished the regular season with a 6-11-2 record. The girls soccer team finished at 8-9-1. Both teams play in the SEC-Liberty division.

Girls Soccer
The girls varsity soccer team was led by head coach Kelli Josephsen-Fernicola, assistant coach Stephanie Parisi, and captains Cassidy Brown and Shayne Stafford. The team fell just short of .500. However, they showed a lot of promise in the beginning of the season with eight wins and three losses. However, plagued by injuries they had a struggle towards the end of the season. The girls also showed a lot of potential with three freshmen, Addy Cook, Mia Rodriguez, and Tea Fiore. The girls varsity team included eight seniors, including both captains. Captain midfielder, Cassidy Brown, led the team in 12 goals and 7 assists. Captain and goalkeeper, Shayne Stafford, made 108 saves. Shayne reflected on the season, “It was really enjoyable while it lasted, and although I was disappointed how it ended, I loved playing with all of my teammates.” Although the girls season didn’t end how they envisioned, they certainly had fun and enjoyed a great season. Senior defender, Olivia Truzzolino, said: “It was a great senior season,” adding how much she loved making new friends and creating great memories

Boys Soccer   
The boy’s varsity soccer team played under head coach, Martin Rodriguez, assistant coach, Jimmy Phillips, and captains, Jordan Catrambone and Zachary Natt. Catrambone led the team in goals with seven. The team was made up of twenty-three players, ten of which were seniors. The boys varsity team also had a manager, Luke Carino. Carino is a senior who unfortunately was not able to play this year due to an injury. He was on varsity in the 2021 season as a Junior where he got time as a striker. Luke Carino took on the role of team manager and helped raise team spirits. After starting the season off 1-6, the chiefs pulled it together towards the end of the season finishing the season with five wins and only one loss. Captain Zachary Natt said that “We dug ourselves a hole with a rough start, but we started to play better as the year went on. The last two weeks of the season all felt like state games, win or go home. We managed to finish the regular season on a 4-0 run to clinch a states spot that even we thought was out of reach at times.” Zach said that he was proud of how the team finished the year. 

Colonel John McHugh Awards
Every year, it is a tradition at James Caldwell High School to award seniors from both the girls and boys varsity soccer teams with the Colonel John McHugh Award on soccer Saturday. Colonel John McHugh grew up in West Caldwell and graduated from James Caldwell High School. He sacrificed his life fighting for the United States in Afghanistan. The Colonel John McHugh Award is given to players that show great leadership and selflessness on and off the field. Each player votes for a player on their respective team to be awarded. The varsity girls team voted Mya Rivera and Lily Caravella for the award. The varsity boys team voted Jimmy Quagliana and captain Zachary Natt. Jimmy Quagliana said that “It felt surreal being chosen for the award by my own amazing teammates after playing with them for so long.” To be selected for the Colonel John McHugh Award is an honor given to some of the greatest soccer players in Caldwell soccer history, and these four seniors have shown on and off the field that they are deserving of the award.