Oaklyn United opens season with win over Medford Strikers

Oaklyn United scored four first half goals en route to a 4-1 season opening win over league newcomer Medford Strikers in an APSL Delaware River Conference match Sunday night at Rowan University.

Former Saint Joseph’s standout Blake Driehuis opened the scoring early in the half with a put back on a deflected clearance and Oaklyn had a chance to double the advantage with a penalty kick but Medford keeper Liam Smith saved the penalty kick to keep it 1-0. Eion Roman then scored an equalizer with a clean finish off a run set up by a lovely through ball from Matthew D’Ottavi.

Austin Johnson did the heavy lifting to set up Oaklyn United’s second goal when he fought off a defender to win a ball sent down the left flank and crossed it to Max Byrd Hawk for the tap-in. Jason Mancuso redeemed himself for the saved penalty with the third goal set up by Johnson and Mancuso then assisted on Driehuis’s second to round out the scoring.

“A lot of what happened in the first half we talked about last year and couldn’t execute,” said player/coach Matt Perrella. “Obviously, as a team that doesn’t train full time and very hard time, it’s hard to get anything cohesive so today was actually, for me, much better than we expected. Obviously, score four goals in a half and then to only let one in, that’s a great day.”

Oaklyn United has finished top four in each of their three previous seasons in the American Premier Soccer League but is aiming for a home playoff game this season. WC Predators ran away with the conference and won the league in their first season in the league last year and started off their campaign with a 4-1 win over Jersey Shore Boca on Saturday. Medford Strikers are one of four new entries into the 12-team conference with Lighthouse 1893 SC, German American Kickers and Sewell Old Boys also entering.

Sewell Old Boys FC, which earned promotion from the CASA Select league, lost their inaugural match 4-0 to Vidas United, Lighthouse 1893 SC lost 3-2 to Philadelphia SC and GAK hosts Oaklyn United Wednesday night for their first match in Hamilton Township.

Real Central Jersey beat Alloy SC, last year’s runner ups, 2-1 in other opening weekend action in the conference.