Built on Trust, Bound for Victory

By Lily Silver

There won’t be many easy nights for Summit boys soccer this fall. The Hilltoppers know that. They know the Watchung Division will demand their best every time they step onto the field, and they know that the road to the end of November will be defined by how they respond when games become difficult.

So, rather than searching for one game that will define their season, Summit is preparing for all of them. “We are in the Watchung Division in Union County and every game is tough and a grind,” the coaching staff said.

That mindset fits a team that has built one of its biggest strengths around the defensive side of the field.

Summit returns its entire back line plus goalkeepers, Joe Dadourian and Luca Gianni, giving the Hilltoppers a familiar foundation under pressure. But the team’s potential isn’t limited to its defense. With dynamic players spread throughout the pitch, Summit believes it has the pieces to create opportunities and make an impact at both ends of the field.

If there’s one thing opponents may not see coming, senior captain Maxim Kalinichenko believes it is Summit’s defense. “We have a lot of guys returning in the back, and we’ve built a lot of trust with each other. We’re going to be tough to break down.”

The challenge now is turning those pieces into a team capable of surviving the grind of an entire season. “We need to keep our eye on the prize and not get distracted,” Coach Jamnik said.

That focus starts with the team’s five captains: Teddy Mixon, Jayden Torres, Luke Cain, Andrew Seamone and Maxim Kalinchenko.

“We weren’t just a TEAM, we were a FAMILY,”
Coach Jamnik

For Jayden Torres, taking on the role of captain comes with an expectation that leadership cannot simply be something displayed on game day. “Being named a captain is a true honor and a privilege because it means my teammates and coaches trust me to represent this program,” Torres said. “As a leader, I want to lead by example both on and off the field.”

Torres said the team has spent the preseason putting in the work both on and off the pitch, preparing to bring its grit and passion into every play. Kalinichenko echoes that same mentality emphasizing the team’s willingness to work and compete for one another.

That commitment to each other is nothing new.

Looking back at last season, the coaching staff’s proudest takeaway wasn’t a particular result or individual accomplishment. It was the culture the team created.

“We weren’t just a TEAM, we were a FAMILY,” Coach Jamnik said.

Now that same sense of togetherness is being carried into a new season, one in which Summit has its sights set beyond simply surviving a difficult schedule.

The coaching staff and the entire Summit boys soccer team are encouraging fans to pack the stands this fall. Captain Jayden Torres threw down the challenge directly: “Get ready to bring the noise, because we’re prepared to leave everything on the pitch to win it all.”

For a team that feeds off community support, that home-field energy could become another advantage as the season progresses.

A tough schedule is a lot easier to face when you’re doing it with your closest friends. With seamless chemistry on the pitch and total trust off it, Summit enters the fall connected, confident, and ready to make every game count.

Story Credit: TAPinto Summit