*Christine Massaro, the author of this piece, is a long time member of the NV/Old Tappan Athletic Department and faculty and an alumni. She is also the sister of John Massaro, who is featured here...

CRESSKILL – Cresskill’s girls soccer team has been on the prowl lately, mixing together a concoction of a Real Madrid-trained coach, a lacrosse coach, a high school principal and an eager group of soccer players. First-year Coach Adam Khriss guided the team to a 5-4-1 record in the NJIC-Patriot division for a third place finish in the regular season. They also captured a 7-0 victory in the Bergen County Invitational Play-In Round.

On Thursday, the Cougars reached the North 1, Group 1 state sectional semifinal round with a 2-1 win over 12th-seeded North Warren,

Assistant Coach Sammy Murri has been a constant presence on the sideline, and she brings her extensive sports pedigree as a standout high school and 2-sport collegiate athlete to the table. Her lacrosse background, in particular, has played a key role in her coaching style and success.

“I’ve been able to bring my lacrosse knowledge to this team and switch up a couple drills. I’m learning a lot at the same time. The girls have been amazing. This experience has been amazing,” said Murri. “We haven’t won a state first round game since 2015. It’s just been an amazing season, and the girls played their hearts out.” 

Coach Murri’s mention of her team and crediting them shows her humility and eagerness to learn more, but that’s the recipe for a great coach -- at any age or stage.  Make no mistake; her coaching has played a role in this season, as well. Being with the team every day, she has played a pivotal role in their development as the season has progressed. This coaching experience has proven instrumental in guiding the team through an extremely unique situation. 

The situation? Principal John Massaro explains: “We have a new coaching staff this year, as Adam Khriss, the head coach, was hired at the very end of the school year and we have Samantha Murri as his assistant coach,” said Massaro. “When we hired Adam he told us during the interview process that he was going to be leaving at the end of October for a professional soccer coaching program. I said I’ll help out if needed.”

Khriss stepped out, Massaro has stepped in and it has been a seamless transition as the principal is walking the sidelines again for Cresskill. 

You read that right. The current principal is an active coach for this team. Anyone who knows John Massaro knows the term “active” is apropos. I joke that our surname “Massaro” is Italian for “wears many hats.”

The titles he’s held at Cresskill MS/HS include Chemistry teacher, Girls Soccer Coach (2001-2011), Supervisor, Assistant Principal, and most recently, Principal. This career trajectory never stopped John from coaching, however. He’s been an active coach for over 20 years consecutively, most recently in the Northern Valley Soccer Club program, where he coached his daughters. 

He’s had experience in coaching big games at many levels, and uses his scouting from coaching against the current Cresskill players when they were younger to their advantage now: “I was looking forward to the opportunity to work with them and not have to coach against them for once. They are very talented!”

I asked Mr. Massaro (it’s weird calling my brother that) what this unique situation has been like for him, and he said, “There are many people in Cresskill who know me as a soccer person, but the younger crowd of students and parents don’t know about my earlier days here and my enthusiasm and passion for coaching Cresskill girls soccer. So it’s been nice to rekindle that.” 

Longtime Cresskill Athletic Director Beth DelVecchio, who was recently honored at the BCWCA Volleyball Championship, knows the history of Cresskill sports well.

“To have them back in states, it brings back the memories of when John coached and the same type of feel that we’re getting it going again. For him to step in for the coach who got accepted to the Real Madrid program, it's been great. Samantha has done an awesome job. She played lacrosse at Kean, her mom is the longtime assistant coach at Paramus, and so a lot of the concepts of the game can transfer from lacrosse to soccer. I think John’s done a very nice job of allowing her to take the lead. I can see them talking on the sideline, working together for sure.” 

The principles of good coaching like advanced scouting, practice design and in-game coaching adjustments can be seen in both Massaro and Sammi Murri, whose presence on the sideline, stemming from her elite lacrosse coaching, is noticeable and respected, and translates to the players on the field feeding off her strong coaching presence.

Khriss has been a big part of this team’s success this season, and the Cougars wouldn’t be where they are without his guidance since taking over last summer. After a tough 1-0 loss to Glen Rock in the 1st Round of the Bergen County Invitational, the Cougars finished out their regular season and turned their attention to the state tournament, which can often come down to penalty kicks (PKs). There are no “ties” in states--someone must win and advance.

The shootout is something that Coach Massaro has extensive experience with, particularly the NJSIAA rules, order strategy, and practice preparation aspects. This proved to be crucial in the seven rounds of PKs against Pascack Hills to decide the winner in the first round of the North 1, Group 1 state sectional playoffs.

The Cougars had practiced this exact scenario, and after the game went to overtime tied at 1, with nobody scoring in overtime, day turned to night and pitch play turned to PKs. That’s when the Cougars combined their skills with their coaches’ preparation and won 5-4 in 7 rounds.

Goalie Maya Joshi made 20 saves through the contest, Ana Eusevi scored a 1st half goal, and Rita Reznick, Ariel Alejo (2), and Aya Catran (2) each found the back of the net during the PK round. 

That set the stage for Thursday’s State Sectional Quarterfinal against North Warren, a strong team out of the NJAC Colonial where it went 8-2. The Patriots were coming off an upset victory over 5-seed Saddle Brook in the first round and they traveled to Cresskill on Thursday looking for another road upset.

This had the feels of an edgy playoff game from the start, with both teams packing the stands on a beautiful fall day. Yonatan Halabi and Orri Shapira were two of the many students who came out to support the girls. Both young men took the time to talk about what the vibe is like surrounding this Group 1 playoff team.

“I think it is the best energy the girls soccer team has had in a while. Everyone knew the importance of this game,” said Halabi.

Added Shapira, “Everyone showed out, the team showed up, energy was high the whole game.”

And what do these junior boys think of seeing their principal coaching on the sidelines?

Said Halabi, “I think Mr. Massaro being out there is a direct reflection of our school and how much this means to us.” Shapira echoed, “I think the girls seeing their principal is there for them, it’s just even more to play for. It also means a lot to the students, and definitely increases the morale.” 

That energy was palpable as soon as you got near the Cresskill soccer field this week during its home playoff games. Combine the team’s chemistry with the coaches’s experience, mix in some rowdy fans, and you get a great soccer environment. 

So how did the chemistry of a lacrosse coach and a principal work out? 

Cresskill took a 2-0 lead in the first half on a goal by Ana Eusevi assisted by Emmi Chong, who described the play eloquently: “It was just like our first state game. I did my big kick and Ana, of course, shot in an amazing goal. All of us working together, our energies together, we worked amazingly out there and it just gives us all the confidence on the field.”

Eusevi agreed.  “We had so much support today. Also, the team energy -- we did a team dinner yesterday and we bonded so much, and we went out like one big family.”

Speaking of family, I asked her what it was like for my brother, her principal, to coach her and the Cougars. She said, “He's a great coach, he knows what he’s doing and he motivates us every day.”

Later in the first half, Rita Reznick scored off an assist from Elaine Kim. Reznick, a senior, knows the urgency of each state playoff game.

“It’s my senior year. I’m a captain on this team. I need to be a leader and I know that’s important. We all have to have someone to lift everyone up, and always be there on the field and off the field. I think that was my role throughout not just this game, but overall this season,” said Reznick. “We have great team chemistry.”

Reznik’s sense of urgency, combined with Elaine Kim’s beautifully placed pass, put the Cougars up 2-0 in the first half. 

From there, the defense held on to get the shutout, grounded by the netminding of Maya Joshi and Cora Silver, who subbed in at goal for a crucial moment when North Warren’s free kick sailed just over the crossbar.

By my estimation, Silver would have saved it anyway. Back came Joshi, whose ability to tune out the noise was key in her stalwart defending of the net.

“I can tune out the noise, and I know I have my family here to cheer for me. It motivates me to do better in the game and it kind of hypes me up.”

Joshi was certainly hyped up, and combined with her defensive backs, pitched a shutout in a crucial quarterfinal win for the Cougars. 

From here, Cresskill moves on to face the Kittatinny Cougars in the semifinal of North 1, Group 1 on Monday out in Sussex County. One thing is for certain, a Cougars team will advance.

As for Cresskill?

The Bergen County Cougars are relying on their senior leaders, their season-long teamwork, growing confidence, Coach Murri’s continued guidance, and their Principal’s continuing stewardship. That’s a great recipe for team chemistry and the principles of success.

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