With a relatively young and inexperienced core of players, expectations were low for Newark East Side this season.

But under the leadership of Jose Pereira, who just finished his 11th season as head coach, Newark East Side emerged as one of the best teams in the Super Essex Conference, posting a 14-3-1 record while defeating some of the very best teams in the state throughout the season.

East Side defeated the likes of Livingston, Elizabeth, and Montclair, all state-ranked opponents at the time, en route to an 8-0 start. Its only losses this season came at the hands of Seton Hall Prep (twice) and Hunterdon Central in the North 2, Group 4 quarterfinals.

In addition, Newark East Side made it to the Essex County Tournament final for the first time since 2016, falling just short against Seton Hall Prep, 2-1.

The most impressive part of Pereira’s team this year was that his players rarely showed its inexperience on the field. Sophomore forward Nicholas Vales stepped up as the team’s go-to scorer, posting 13 goals and seven assists. Sophomore midfielder Guilherme Mourao Dasilva (four goals, nine assists) consistently improved throughout the year and played with tremendous vision and pace in the middle third of the field. Defensively, junior left back Thierry De Souza led a back line that only allowed 17 goals all season.