Promising start for confident Hewlett

Through the first five games of 2024, the Hewlett boys’ soccer team is 3-1-1 with each contest decided by a single goal.

That’s proof for coach Jesse Corben of two things — the Bulldogs can compete with any team in Nassau County and they have a special talent in goalkeeper Matthew Fridburg.

“He keeps us in every game, keeps it close,” Corben said of the returning All-County senior netminder. “Even if we are playing a really strong opponent like South Side, his ability to stop the ball can keep us in any game. Even when we're playing the Manhassets or Garden Citys, when you have a goalkeeper like we have, it keeps you in every game.”

Fridburg isn’t just a quality shot stopper. He also initiates the Hewlett attack.

“He’s a huge part of our offensive attack where he has a great leg, a great kick, a great punt,” Corben said. “So when we play it through the back, he has the ability to instantly send the long ball over the top. He’ll take all of our free kicks.”

Fridburg’s twin brother, Brandon, is a senior forward who scored the lone goal in a massive 1-0 non-league victory over crosstown rival Lynbrook to open the season.

The emotional win was huge for Hewlett, especially after having an earlier goal in the match disallowed.

“We could have quit and put our heads down,” Corben said. “But instead, we dug down and we found a way to score again and get the win. It was a really big confidence booster and exactly what we needed to start the season with.”

Kfir Halfon is another returning starter and the senior could play anywhere on the field — as a tall target forward, an imposing central defender or a physical presence in the middle of the park.

He’s one of four senior captains, along with Matthew Fridburg, Anthony Melnik and Edan Shiponi.

“Edan is similar to Kfir,” Corben said. “We’ve used him in the middle, we’ve used him in the back. He's a big, strong physical presence and he also has a long throw-in that we use as a weapon.”

And for the first time in Corben’s 17 years with the varsity program, there’s junior captains in Roi Wodnitzky, Tamir Nagar, Ryan Leguillow.

“The first week of practice, the whole tryouts, those guys set the tone of the practice,” Corben said. “They play with a level of intensity that is contagious. They earned it so we gave it to them.”

While meetings with last year’s county finalists Garden City and Manhasset are on the horizon, the leadership and balance of the team has Hewlett believing it could contend this year, especially after battling perennial powerhouse South Side to a one-goal loss on Sept. 11.

“We feel like we have the ability to beat any team we play,” Corben said. “We believe in ourselves.”