Noah Williams is talented enough to play up front for the Ewing High School boys soccer team.
The Blue Devils are keeping the junior in the back because that’s where they need him most.
“His vocalness and just his awareness of the game and the pace of the game, he knows when to slow it down, when to speed it up,” said Ewing coach DJ Zedalis. “He’s vocal, aware and just skilled, like one of the best players that I could really honestly say that I’ve worked with.”
Williams will slot in at center back when he returns this month from an injury. He started at left back his freshman and sophomore years before moving into the center midway through last season. He also plays a defensive role for his Match Fit Academy club team. He grew up focused on defense, though he moved around when his speed improved.
“I played left back, center back, wing back — really all over the place,” Williams said. “I feel most comfortable in the back.”
The Blue Devils will try to get off to a strong start without him when they open the year Sept. 2 against Princeton Day School. Ewing comes into this season plenty motivated after winning just one game last year.
“We’ve got a decent amount of kids,” Williams said. “We’re kind of heavy loaded with juniors. And we have a really good team. I think we’re super hungry, especially from last year. I think definitely those losses stuck with us and did not feel good. So we definitely want to change that and hopefully look to make a run.”
School had barely finished when the team started meeting up for captain’s practices. That gave the seniors and juniors a chance to start turning around the team’s fortunes. They showed up for preseason with a brighter outlook. They return eight starters and 10 players who were in the rotation.
“A lot of those guys are just fantastic, they’re ready to rock and roll,” Zedalis said. “We’re really changing the culture of Ewing. Last year was my first year. Second year, I kind of have my feet under me and it’s good that they all back me. So they’re all coming in hungry. Noah, Nate Muntone, Jon Davila, Nick Tackacs, Connor Quinn — our new guy. You know, they’re really buying into the system and whether it be drills, scrimmages, whatever it may be, they’re ready to go.”
Ewing will again be quick in transition, but they have been working on possessing the ball better. The Blue Devils have some firepower up top that they are hoping can generate more goals. Williams’ return is one of the keys to a defense that will have to be stout early on as they welcome a new starter in goal after graduating Elias Martinez. Thomas Burkhart saw a little action last year. Ewing also needs to shore up its outside backs.
“Once Noah comes back, I think our back line is going to be really tough to get past,” Zedalis said. “Noah’s real good with his communication and the other center back I have, Nate Muntone, they’ve been playing together since they were 5. So the communication and the technique, everything is there for them and it will just be a lot more fluid once he comes back with our outside backs as well. Those are the ones that we’re kind of testing out right now as to who’s going to be playing there.”
Williams’ experience is a big plus for the Blue Devils. He’s had plenty of club and high school action to know what works and what doesn’t.
“I’m definitely more composed and definitely smarter, just taking what the defense gives me and not forcing it too much,” he said. “I think the game has slowed down for me a lot.”
Williams has enjoyed the game for most of his life. He started playing at age 3 in the Ewing recreation program before moving into travel and club soccer. Playing in the back has taught him to speak up on the field.
“That’s what I pride myself on, for sure, being vocal, getting the team together as that man in the back because I can see the field best obviously besides the goalkeeper,” he said. “I’m very vocal on the field.”
Being vocal is a big part of his leadership skill set. It’s part of why Zedalis moved him into the middle last year, and he also admired his game awareness and instincts.
“He just knows how to command the back line,” Zedalis said. “I can’t speak highly enough of the guy. I got to coach him in lacrosse too this past year, and it’s the same thing. He just has a natural defender instinct. And it stinks because you’re talented enough to play up top if we wanted him to, but he’s just too essential on the back line to where we can’t really move him up.”
For the first two weeks, Williams may be relegated to yelling from the sidelines until he’s healthy enough to return. But he’s been on enough teams to understand what creates good dynamics for success.
“I think kind of just trying to stay positive and stay together as a team, keep the team together as much as you can because if you don’t have any morale, you don’t have anything,” Williams said. “If we focus on keeping the team mentally together, then everything else will fall in line.”
He’s optimistic that the Blue Devils have the makeup to turn their fortunes around. He hasn’t forgotten about last year’s struggles.
“I mean it fuels you just to be better,” Williams said. “After looking at that, it’s kind of embarrassing and you never want to feel like that again. So you got to do something to change it and we’re working hard to change that right now.”
He’s seen solid development around him over the summer workouts. The team has improved in several key aspects heading into 2025.
“Technically on the ball, we’re better,” Williams said. “Mentally we’re better. We’re motivated as ever. We’re super hungry and we just want to get after it every game for the full 80 minutes.”
Williams is part of a junior class that still has another season left after this year. This fall is important to start to turn the tide for the Blue Devils and to take on bigger leadership roles as upperclassmen. They want to send the seniors out on a high note and raise expectations going forward. Williams is hoping he can continue to play beyond Ewing.
“If the opportunities present themselves, I definitely will think about it for sure,” he said. “I’ve loved this game since I was 3 years old, I can’t just give it away like that. I definitely can’t stop. It’s been my life.”
When he’s not on the field, he enjoys walks outside and spending time with friends and family. On the field, he’s found a sport that brings him real joy. This year, a few more wins would make it even better for the Ewing boys soccer squad. Having a fixture like Williams in the back can only help.
“We’re definitely moving on, we’re moving in the right direction,” Williams said. “I think we’ve really got a good chance to rack up some wins this year.”
