Monday, October 20, 2008

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

FRANKLIN LAKES – Ramapo had its sights set on winning a Bergen County championship last year when it entered the tournament seeded second and playing. But the Green Raiders’ tournament ended almost before it even began as 15th seeded Englewood pulled one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history. This year Ramapo is also seeded No. 2 and was playing well as the tournament began, but the similarities to last season end right there. This time around, there would be no Round of 16 disappointment.

Tommy Breault scored twice in the first half and Ramapo cruised from there to a 5-0 win over 15th seeded Glen Rock at Ramapo High School.

“We knew from what happened last year that we couldn’t afford to come out flat,” said Ramapo head coach Evan Baumgarten. “I thought our guys came out loose, but also mentally focused. Our kids did well in getting the ball wide and down on the end line to create scoring chances that way. I think it was real important to get a goal early and give us some breathing room.”

Breault scored just over eight minutes into the match and added another from close range with 13 minutes left to put the Green Raiders ahead 2-0 at the half.

The second half was more of the same with Ramapo in complete control of the possession game. Rob Santaniello had his hand on all three second-half goals. Just over five minutes into the second stanza, he found Aldo Cascio, who one-timed a blast past Glen Rock keeper Peter Cuviello and just inside the far post to make it 3-0.

Cascio then hit Chris Kuehn, who dribbled through a sea of Panther defenders and scored in the 51st minute. Ten minutes later, Santaniello capped the scoring with a 20-yard strike.

Goalie Doug Harkins needed to make just one save to record the shutout for Ramapo (10-0-2). Cuviello, made eight saves for Glen Rock (10-5).

Ramapo will face 10th seeded Cliffside Park, a 3-1 winner over Ridgewood, in next Sunday’s Bergen County quarterfinal. As dangerous and success as Cliffside Park, a county finalist last year, has been in the past throughout the Bergen County Tournament, most of the Ramapo players feel the key to success is their own performance; not that of their opponents.

“Losing to Englewood was the low point of year last year and we didn’t want to feel that at all this year,” said Ramapo’s Chris Kuehn, who was a starter on last season’s team that went on to win the Group 3 state championship. “The county tournament gets harder each round, but we are more concerned with improving each game. We’re experienced enough to know that we need to be patient and look to exploit some holes in the defense when we find them.

“We are confident in the fact that our biggest opponent is ourselves if we’re playing well. But we also know that if we come out flat, there are some very good teams left that will be out to beat us if we’re not on our game. That’s the challenge we’ll have to face and we’re ready for it.”

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