“The seeds were planted last year,” said East boys varsity soccer head Coach Michael Melograna. “Our seniors vowed as a group not to let it happen again.”
Seven wins, ten losses, and three draws (7-10-3) was how the 2024 season ended for the Cherry Hill East Boys Varsity Soccer Team. Despite bright moments such as defeating Howell in the first round of the NJSIAA playoffs, the team left the field wanting more. Their inconsistent but promising 2024 run set the stage for what came next.
The 2025 season for the boys opened with a remarkable 9-0-1 start, led by the drive, focus, and commitment of the seniors. East went ten straight games without a loss, entering early October undefeated–the strongest opening Coach Melograna has seen in his 12 years of coaching. It paved the way for what became the most successful season of his career at East.
Not only did the boys play hard, but they also played together. The unique Cougar culture remained the heart of the program, treating each other like family, sharing meals, and building a bond that goes beyond soccer.
“The boys telling each other they love each other is unique, they will carry that with them for the rest of their lives,” explained Coach Melograna. 
East’s early surge included big wins, a 6-0 opener against Bishop Eustace, followed by victories over Williamstown (2-1), Vineland (5-1), Shawnee (1-0 in overtime), Seneca (2-1), and Rancocas Valley (2-1). From the start, their chemistry and confidence signaled that this season was different.
“To be honest, going into the season, I knew we would go far,” said outside back Jeston Cai (‘27). “From knowing my teammates and the chemistry we had, I knew the team was different from last year’s.”
One of the season’s defining early moments came on September 27, when East defeated crosstown rival Cherry Hill West 1-0 at home. The rivalry game packed the bleachers with parents, students, and soccer alumni. The spirited student section roared as Felipe Kanacri (‘27) scored the only goal off an assist from Ben Boucher (‘28). The win brought “The Ball” back to East for the first time since a disappointing 0-0 draw the previous year.
Another critical early breakthrough was the September 11 overtime win against Shawnee. Shawn Tishey (‘27) scored the game-winner, snapping a streak of six losses dating back to 2019.
“Shawn Tishey scored a really big goal for us,” Coach Melograna said. “We had this mental block and wondered, when are we ever going to beat them? This win showed the guys that it can happen.”
Tishey continued to shine throughout the year, scoring decisive goals, including the game-winner against Eastern in the NJSIAA Group IV Semifinal and the tying goal in the 1-1 draw against Cherokee that preserved East’s undefeated start. He credited much of his success (six goals, three assists) to teammate Cruz Candray (‘26).
Tishey said he “couldn’t have done it without Cruz,” explaining that “almost every goal and every assist” he had was set up by him.
Candray totaled eight goals and 12 assists, while Mason Fowler (‘28) led the team with 13 goals and five assists. Senior Joe Kwak (‘26) added five goals and four assists, and Kanacri recorded five goals and three assists.
East’s stellar defense was just as reliable. Nolan Perry (‘26), Patrick Weinstein (‘26), Cai, and Henry Anthony (‘26) held a back line that shut down opponents all season.
However, East’s undefeated 9-0-1 start ended with a 2-1 loss to Group III champion Moorestown, followed by an unexpected loss to West Deptford.
“We lost to West Deptford because we didn’t play well,” Coach Melograna said. “It was a refocus moment for us to get our act together. That loss put us on the run and was the best thing that happened to us.”
The loss sparked a new wave of momentum that carried East into the Coaches Cup and deep into the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV Tournament.
As the third seed, East earned home-field advantage throughout the postseason. For the first time, they had the opportunity to host playoffs in the new stadium under the night lights. For the family and fans, this was especially exciting; drawing huge crowds that wanted to support the East boys in any way possible. The improved bleachers welcomed soccer alumni, the whole 2020 varsity team, as well as families from the Cherry Hill community.
In the first round, the Cougars faced 14th-seeded Rancocas Valley. After falling behind 2-0 at halftime, despite beating RV earlier in the year, Fowler scored a hat trick, with Tishey and Kanacri adding goals to win 5-2.
“This is an experience that the guys coming back know that 2-0, no big deal. If we stay committed, we can come back and play. You must have a little bit of luck, but you have to have that expectation and a belief in the confidence that you can do this.”
In the quarterfinals against 11th-seeded Lenape, Tishey scored early, and Candray delivered a dramatic late winner for the 2-1 victory.
The semifinal against Eastern was one of the season’s most intense games. Perry opened the scoring, Eastern scored too, and then Tishey’s overtime header sent East to the sectional final. The celebratory chants and dances along with players and fans storming the fields capped off the iconic night.
“You can’t win unless you have 16 to 20 guys who can play,” Coach Melograna explained. “The quality and style of play can’t drop down because we put in the second unit. We should be very deep in players next year, like this year.”
The Cougars ultimately finished with a 16-6-1 record and a list of accomplishments that will last forever. Their season included a return to the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV Sectional Final for the first time since 2020 and a second-round appearance in the Coaches Cup. As the 6th seed in the Coaches Cup, East hosted their first-round home game for the first time in 20 years, defeating Delsea 1-0 before falling to the eventual champion, Washington Township.
Under head coach Mike Melograna’s leadership, the Cougars earned statement wins over Shawnee, Cherry Hill West, Delsea, and avenged past playoff losses to Lenape and Eastern. The team reestablished itself as one of South Jersey’s elite programs.
“We made our own way, nothing was given to us. We took a harder road than everybody,” said Coach Melograna. “The guys showed a lot of grit, maturity, and heart. They fulfilled expectations, performed, and made our alumni and school proud.”
On Friday, November 14, 2025, the Cougars’ journey ended in heartbreaking fashion, when third-seeded East was blown out at home to the fifth-seeded Southern Regional (16-7-2) in the sectional championship.
“We don’t ever really get over the loss, being at home, having hundreds of people in the stands, fighting for that. To be 0-0 at halftime and just have literally 12 minutes where things didn’t go our way and we couldn’t recover. I’m not over it and I don’t think the guys are.”
Although the defending champion Rams defeated East 5-1, the Cougars’ postseason run demonstrated the program’s transformation, especially impressive after losing 15 seniors from the previous season.
“Next year, the boys have to understand that there is a target at their back. Everyone knows we were in the Sectional Finals. Everyone knows that we were one of the best teams in South Jersey, and they are gonna come with their best shot at us,” said Coach Melograna
Over the years, Coach Melograna has witnessed the entire evolution. The last sectional championship came in 1998. From 2014 to 2018, East was 30 games under .500 in the Olympic American Conference. Since 2019, they are now 27 games over .500, a remarkable shift in one of the state’s toughest conferences.
The 2025 Cougars earned numerous all-conference selections. Anthony, Candray, Fowler, and Perry were named “First Team”. “Second Team” selections included Kanacri, Kwak, goalkeeper Alex Miller (‘27), and Tishey. Candray and Anthony earned “All-South Jersey” honors, and seniors Anthony, Candray, Kwak, Perry, and Weinstein were nominated for the all-star game, with Anthony and Candray invited to play.
“Patrick Weinstein was a total stud for us this year,” Coach Melograna noted. “Alex Miller was tremendous for us in goal…we had a lot of talent.”
For many, the season ended in tears over what could have been, but the foundation is stronger than ever. The standard has been raised, and the Cougars now enter 2026 with one clear goal: turn their breakthrough into a championship.
