The sparse crowd at Memorial Field in Cranford on Tuesday afternoon belied the significance of the athletic event taking place. Veteran Scotch Plains-Fanwood soccer coach Tom Breznitsky became the fourth coach in New Jersey history to win 600 games when the Raiders cruised to a 6-0 victory over Cranford. Breznitsky joined Pingry’s Miller Bugliari (752), Columbia’s Gene Chyzowych (745) and Shawnee’s Brian Gibney (653) in the 600-Win Club.
“It’s a nice milestone to achieve. It shows a lot of consistency over a long period of time,” Breznitsky said, who also won his 500th game at Cranford in 2004, a 2-0 decision.
Unlike the 500th win seven years ago – a tense battle that was scoreless at halftime – the Raiders broke ahead in the game’s fifth minute when senior Travis Cortes broke in on the right side and drilled a hard right-footed shot just inside the right post.
“It was a thrill to score the first goal in such an important milestone for the coach,” Cortes said.
After a highly competitive first half, the Raiders exploded for two goals within a minute. Andrew Leischner, whose older brother, Greg, played in Breznitsky’s 500th win, beat a defender down the left sideline where he passed to Morgan Elman in the middle of the field. Elman’s one-timer just made it inside the post.
After the restart, Alex Markowitz sent a perfect through-pass to Christian Zazzali, who beat the goalie to the ball and looped a perfect shot over his head for a goal that thrilled his father, Ed, who played soccer for Breznitsky in 1972, and his brother, Eddie, who played for SPF from 2001 through 2003.
The Raiders padded their lead in the second half with two goals by Francisco Chinchilla and one by Conor Kelly. With a big lead, Breznitsky substituted liberally and enjoyed a Gatorade shower from his players as time wound down.
Among the spectators in the decidedly pro-Scotch Plains crowd was Breznitsky’s wife, Linda, who has seen nearly all of her husband’s games. a slight, bespectacled woman, Linda Breznitsky stood by the fence that surrounded the soccer field in a warm-up suit watching the game with her son Ryan, one of Scotch Plains’ greatest players, who was a four-year starter graduating in 2004.
“I don’t look that presentable. I came here from the gym,” Linda said with a laugh.
She and Tom met while working as a waitress and waiter at Mt. Airy Lodge in the Poconos during summer vacation from college. After marrying, Tom worked as a teacher and coach at Scotch Plains and Linda worked as a school librarian in the Bridgewater school system. when Tom retired from teaching three years ago, she also retired, but like her husband, has kept busy working part-time as a librarian in Westfield.
Among the fans at the game were SPFHS seniors Brett Kovacs, Steve Rathko, Luke Mineo, Dylan Murczinski, Evan Lubranski and Ian Johnston, who created a Facebook page, called SPF Raider Nation. Among their chants was, “We love you, Brez”, which elicited a thumbs-up from the coach.
“The fans have always been a big part of Scotch Plains’ success,” Linda said. “They are loyal and enthusiastic and give the boys a big lift.”
After accepting congratulations and getting a plaque commemorating his achievement from the Scotch Plains Athletic Boosters, Breznitsky was quick to thank his wife.
“Behind every successful coach is a great woman, and she is the best,” he said.
Linda, who said she has vague memories of win number 500, has not discounted the chance that there will be a 700th victory. “Tom enjoys the game of soccer and especially the kids,” she said. “He enjoys what he does so I don’t see any reason he should stop doing it.”
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