“We’re still figuring things out,” said Montclair’s veteran coach Toure’ Weaver. “One question I never have to ask this group is how hard are they going to work because every game they step out there, they’re putting everything into it.

“In every game so far against a very tough schedule we’re right there, and I don’t think we’re yet playing at our full ability.

Among those Mounties playing well vs. MKA were senior goalkeeper Jesse Hand (10 saves), Dosch, Jack Swartz - who was frequently on the ball - and his younger brother, sophomore Nicky Swartz, who excelled out wide.

Weaver, a former Mountie standout player who went on to excel at the University of Pittsburgh and was also a longtime assistant to 30-year Montclair coach Jack Weber, knows the ins and outs of Montclair’s program, including how the high school team benefits from the township’s long-standing, youth soccer system, boosted by the organization Montclair United.

The annual influx of a large number of seniors is a testament to the strength of soccer in the township, not only at the root levels, but also with the enduring interest in the sport exhibited by an always-large senior class at the high school level.   

“Coming into this season we had only three returning guys with varsity experience, and that’s the first time that’s happened in 10 years,” Weaver said after his team’s stalemate with MKA. “We’ve always had 3- and 4-year starters and at usually three or four guys coming back who had meaningful minutes.

“Most of the seniors this year played JV last year, and with the returning Academy kids it’s taken some time for it all to come together because Academy and high school soccer are so different, and those guys are getting used to it all again.”

MKA, behind the guidance of its fine veteran coach Rob Leather, actually had an apparent goal waved off vs. Montclair, a well-placed header by junior forward CJ Dike which came with less than three minutes gone in the second half.

The official who made the call was approached after the game to clarify his decision to wave off the goal and he said that an MKA player had ‘impeded with the goaltender.’             

“I was pretty disappointed, and thought it was interesting for a linesman to make a call on an incident with a goalkeeper when the ball was 8 to 10 yards from the goalkeeper,” said Leather. “I felt like it was a 1-0 game and wasn’t too thrilled with the call.

“We may have been a little tired at the end of regular time because we have a few injuries and had to roll out 12 or 13 guys throughout the game and that’s always difficult against Montclair because they’re pretty deep.

“I was really happy with the way we played. I feel like they didn’t break us down and that we had more of the game and deserved to win.

“We haven’t beaten Montclair since I’ve been here (2014) and this felt like our best result with them.”

Montclair is 8-0-2 in the last 10 games vs. MKA, including eight straight wins from 2013 to 2022, with the two teams also tying the last time they met in September of 2023.

There were no games between the two local rivals in 2016 or 2024 when MKA was a member of the SEC-Liberty Division.

MKA last defeated Montclair in 2012 when then coach Jordan Raper’s Cougars won two meetings with the Mounties that season, both by 1-0 scores, before going on to win their last Non-Public B state championship.

Among the Cougars excelling vs. Montclair in their most recent match were members of the team’s superb ‘Back 4’ defending in front of senior standout keeper Jan Hejna in senior returning Non-Public all-stater Braedan Keegan, junior Wes Narucki and sophomores Thomas Hunt and Noah Cesareo.

“Montclair is always a tough match and this match was indicative of the very challenging schedule we have had so far,” said Leather. “I like our team, and I look forward to us continuing to play at a high level and get healthier as well.”   

MKA is at Oratory Prep in Summit, 1 p.m., Saturday (Sept. 27) before another big SEC-American Division showdown, this time vs. SHP, 4 p.m., Tuesday (Sept. 30) at Van Brunt Field.

Montclair hosts Glen Ridge, 4 p.m., Monday (Sept. 29) before Newark East Side comes to ‘The Fort’ 4:30 p.m., Wednesday (Oct. 1).