Coach keeping Stockton ties alive

The Northwestern University men’s team will play three exhibition games at the South Jersey Soccer Festival hosted by Stockton University in August.

Coaching Northwestern is Tim Lenahan, a Stockton alumnus who was was the Ospreys’ head coach from 1990-97.

We have a very strong group of Stockton alumni, and it’s great for me to get to come back to the area and see everyone.” At the festival in Galloway Township, Northwestern will play South Jersey Select.

“It’s a chance for people to watch a level of play between Division III and the MLS in the South Jersey area.” Bridging that skill gap also is very important to Greg Ruttler, the current Stockton coach and a longtime friend of Lenahan’s.

Ruttler, also a Stockton alumnus, and Lenahan have been friends for 20 years.

“In my years of knowing Lenahan with his roots to Stockton, I implement a lot of what he does for his teams when I’m coaching,” Ruttler said.