The top-seeded, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys soccer team proved just how tough its defense is with a 7-0 thumping of the 16th-seeded Linden Tigers in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 playoffs at Scotch Plains on November 5. Three days later on November 8, the 16-1-2 Raiders had to battle with very gusty winds in the first half but prevailed to defeat the eighth-seeded Dickinson Rams, 5-2, in the quarterfinal round at Scotch Plains.
The Raiders’ triumph over the Tigers was their 13th shutout of the season and they began by scoring four of their goals in the first half. Afterwards, it was an easy cruise through the second half. Seven Raiders recorded goals. Darren Edleman had a goal and an assist. Giovanni Marrese, Colin Kochanowicz, Jayvon Young, Luca Passucci, Caden Matulonis and Ryan Watt each scored once. Devin Pearce,Anastasio Pavlou, Sam Lindell and Dylan Anger each dished out an assist. Nikos Zoganas recorded two saves.
Young, a junior forward, notched a “Hat Trick” (3 goals) against the 118 Dickinson Rams, who had defeated the ninth-seeded Piscataway Chiefs, 4-2, in the first round. Pavlov, a freshman midfielder, and junior Brad Pearce scored the other goals. Cocaptains Luca Passucci and Devin Pearce, along with juniors Watt and Matulonis provided the assists. Tomas Monteiro scored both of the Rams’ goals.
The Raiders were facing the very gusty winds in the first half and had to resort to a “Rope a Dope” mode of keeping possession away from the Rams until they got a few opportunities to strike when the winds died down for brief periods. In the meantime, the Rams did get a few opportunities both by midfielder George Mateo Ojeda. The second one was the most pressing when his free kick from the right side caused the Raider goalkeeper to make a great leaping knock away with 2:35 left in the first half.
The Raiders made good on their first opportunity when co-captain Luca Passucci curled a left corner kick into Young, who headed the ball past Ram goalkeeper Noah Monteiro, for a 1-0 lead with 14:07 left in the half. The wind died down again less than two minutes later and, this time, Luca Passucci sent a free kick from midfield into a mob scene. Watt quickly settled the ball and tapped to Pavlou, who drew out the keeper and ripped the ball into the net with 12:33 showing.
There were two more opportunities in the first half, both initiated by Luca Passucci on free kicks that caused scrambles in the danger zone. With the wind at their back in the second half, Young added two more goals and Brad Pearce struck gold.
Next would be a semifinal showdown in Scotch Plains on November 12 with fourth-seeded Newark East Side, 4-3, winners over fifth-seeded Columbia.
Dickinson 0 2 2 Sc Pl-Fanwood 2 3 5
