Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/25/07

BY JOHN BUSH
STAFF WRITER

Halloween always comes a little early for the Freehold Soccer League.

The league held its Freehold Frightfest IX Invitational Tournament, featuring U8 and U10 boys and girls teams, Oct. 13 at Jackson Mills Park and Opatut Park.

The emphasis of the tournament is on having fun, and participating teams — players and coaches alike — are encouraged to dress in costume.

Tournament organizers also get in on the fun.

At the Jackson Mills site, a grim reaper figure wandered among the grounds, while each field featured a Halloween display along with spooky names such as Jack O'Lantern Hill, The Ghost Pavilion, Witches Caldron and The Graveyard. The theme for this year's Frightfest was the mummy.

"We're almost at a point where we're beginning to call it a festival, because it's turning into a festival," said Anthony Izzo, tournament director for the Freehold Soccer League. "The kids come down here, they have fun, they dress in costume. It brings out the best in everyone."

Izzo said this year's tournament attracted 117 teams from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

"We group the teams into three categories: Lower, Club or Premier, so they're still playing competition within their realm," Izzo said. "And everybody receives a participation award."

Each team plays two games in an 8-on-8 format, with no standings. The only team awards are for the tournament's best costume and best pumpkin contests.

At Jackson Mills Park, the Cinnaminson U10 Storm boys team won best costume with a pizza theme, as players wore pizzas on their heads prior to the game and coaches wore chefs' hats and aprons.

"Last year, we were pirates," Cinnaminson coach Dave Bresnahan said. "We were able to play in our costumes. These were a little more challenging. It worked out really well. All the kids are talking about wearing them for the school Halloween pageant."

Taking second place was the Battle of Monmouth U10 Dolphins girls team, which played in Little Red Riding Hood costumes.

The Colts Neck Junkyard Dogs won the team pumpkin contest at Jackson Mills Park, while the Westfield U9 Bordeaux girls team won the team pumpkin contest at Opatut Park with a pumpkin that looked like a hamburger.

A typical game featured the Marlboro U10 Wave Gold girls team, dressed as Dalmatians, playing against the Brick U10 Spirit White girls team, which played in military fatigues.

"We all went in Army costumes in support for our troops," Brick Spirit White coach Gunther Ulbrich said. "Our assistant coach Nadine Morgan came up with it. We have a couple of parents that are in the military, so we thought it would be great."

Marlboro Wave Gold coach Adam Dictrow and his staff also dressed as Dalmatians, complete with dog ears.

"I felt like the girls wanted to have a laugh, so I had to oblige," Dictrow said. "They love to play, so this was a great chance for them to play two games in a day."

"The teams have really gone all-out this year," Izzo said. "They've put that extra oomph in it. You can see the time and workmanship on the parents' behalf. This is my third year doing it and we have a lot of fun with it."

With Cinnaminson having cooked up the winning costume this year, it's likely the team will be back for next year's Frightfest.