1957 Boys Soccer Team

Peddie’s 1957 state championship soccer team completed the season with 11 wins and only one loss. Its eight veteran starters provided sizzling chemistry, and the squad dominated its opponents, rolling to nine consecutive victories. A key 2-0 blanking of Lawrenceville made the traditional end-of-season match-up against Blair the battle for the prep title. Team captain Dave Ogden blasted home two penalty kicks to edge the “boys from Blairstown” 2-1. The only blemish on an otherwise perfect campaign was a heartbreaking 1-0 out-of-state loss to The Hill School.

At center forward, Ogden set a Peddie season scoring record with 18 goals. He was blessed with quickness, great balance, superb vision, marvelous ball control and the ability to shoot powerfully and accurately with either foot. But this star had an impressive supporting cast represented by high-flying wingers Jim Hicks and John Barlow who could carry the ball down the sidelines before lofting or slotting passes to forwards crashing in on the goal. Inside forwards Jerry de la Macorra and Luis Uribe played a beautiful transition game distinguished by their tenacious defense against opponents’ midfielders. Special accolades should be given to the stingy defensive corps who yielded only eight goals all season. Halfbacks Chris Duff, Bill Faylor and Bert Rockafellow controlled the middle of the field with their stamina and discipline. Fullbacks Larry Robinson and William Rose played hard-nosed, man-to-man defense to shield Pete Westine, recognized as one of the state’s elite goalkeepers. The senior ‘keeper posted a remarkable 0.67 goals against average with five shutouts on the season.

Westine eloquently summarizes the team’s induction into the Peddie Sports Hall of Fame: “When we honor our very successful soccer team, we are recognizing Peddie athletics in its role of teacher of strategy and tactics as well as teacher of how to put together a team effort. The chartered purpose of Peddie is education, and Peddie’s fine athletic program plays a significant role in this mandate.”

The Peddie Sports Hall of Fame honors the excellence and team play of The 1957 soccer team inspired by Ozzie Rand’s professionalism and integrity as a coach.