Together now, and in college

The three players say it wasn't planned.

And each has a different reason for choosing to play soccer for St. Joseph's University.

But after Derek MacKinnon, Ed McCusker, and Lou Vilotti explain why they want to be a Hawk, each offers a similar final statement:

"At the end of the day," McCusker said, "knowing that I'm going to have these experiences with two of my best friends just makes it that much better."

That's a nice way of summing up the last nine years for most of the Washington Township boys' soccer team's senior class.

MacKinnon, McCusker, and Vilotti are just three members of a class that is one of the most talented in recent area memory.

Most of the seniors have played together every year since they were 8 years old, and as glaring as their talent is, their chemistry and closeness are perhaps what stand out most.

"I think from being friends and being close on and off the field, you get a feel for each other," said MacKinnon, a forward who recorded 27 goals and nine assists last year.

"You learn each other's tendencies. We want to see each other succeed. I'm going to work hard for them, and they're going to work hard for me. And it's like that all over the field."

The Minutemen enter this season as the No. 6 high school team nationally in Top Drawer Soccer's Fab 50 rankings, based largely on the reputation of its seniors - a group that has been successful at every level it has played.

When asked how many months per year they play soccer together, Vilotti, Mackinnon, and McCusker laughed and said almost in unison:

"Twelve."

Just this past summer, the Washington United club team won the under-17 Super Group National Cup in Greensboro, N.C. The tournament consisted of some of the top clubs in the country.

The team fielded seven Minutemen seniors - McCusker, MacKinnon, Vilotti, Dan Marino, Tyler Logar, Zach Burns, and Burak Ozdemir - among other South Jersey stars.

The class is now a keystone to a Minutemen team that, on paper, is virtually flawless, a product of natural ability and years of hard work together.

Asked if spending so much time together can be overbearing, the three took the opposite stance.

"It's brought us closer together," said McCusker, a defender. "Growing up together and going through so much has created a bond. And it's something that's actually grown stronger throughout high school."

That attitude, Minutemen coach Shane Snyder said, permeates his team.

"They're selfless," Snyder said. "They trust each other and work hard for each other.

"And when the best players are working hard on both ends of the field, being selfless, other players see that and want to put in that work, too."

Snyder, himself, played for St. Joseph's in the 1990s. The Hawks' current coach, Don D'Ambra, is a Washington Township resident.

And St. Joe's features 2012 Minutemen graduate Eric Jordan.

All of that is a backdrop that makes their college choice even more special for MacKinnon, McCusker, and Vilotti, who cited things such as academics and playing for a winning program as the primary reasons for their selections.

Winning is something the three have done plenty of in high school.

The Minutemen ran over most of their competition in 2013, winning 25 straight games before a crushing loss to Clearview in the South Jersey Group 4 final.

The loss stayed with the Minutemen. And in the face of so much preseason hype, it has kept them grounded.

"It was a bitter way to end such a great year," said Vilotti, a midfielder who paired 14 goals with 21 assists last season, earning Inquirer player of the year honors in boys' soccer.

"Right now, winning is the most important thing, more than any personal accolades. If you play within the system, if you play for each other, you're going to shine individually. It's something bigger than just you, and we all recognize that. We're all playing for the same goal: We want to win a state championship. That's all we want."