Monday, October 26, 2009

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Brian Pash had three assists, all on throw-ins, as Bergen Catholic knocked off defending champion Ramapo, 4-1, in the semifinals of the Bergen County Tournament.

FRANKLIN LAKES – Bergen Catholic soccer coach Mark Edge is just like any other when it comes to what he would like to see from his team. He would love to see fluidity on offense when goals come through ball movement, unselfish passing and finishing with class and the end of pretty combinations. But Edge is also realistic and he knows that when a team has an advantage that might not fit with the grand plan, it is best to bang an opponent over the head with it.

Bergen Catholic is unmatched in its ability to score on restarts and when the opportunities arise, the Crusaders can bully an opponent into submission. Bergen Catholic scored off of three long throw-ins by Brian Pash and added another on a direct kick that Marcelo Escudero bent around the wall to account for all of its goals in a 4-1 win over defending champion Ramapo in the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Tournament.

“Everyone would love to score through open play and possession and move the ball around like a Premiership team, but at the end of the day you just have to get the job done,” said Edge. “The long throw, it’s high school soccer, and I don’t think any coach out here would deny us that. I think that if they had it they would all use it. We are not looking for any highlight reels here, we are just looking to go through to the next round and that is what we did today.”

Charlie O'Connor flicked home a goal that got Ramapo even at 1.

Bergen had had the better of play through the first 35 minutes, but it wasn’t until Pash starting flinging restarts into the middle of the 6 that the Crusaders could claim the lead. Pash’s heave from the right sideline with 4:24 left in the first half landed right on the head of Randy Pearce, who flicked it home to give BC the 1-0 lead it took into halftime.

Ramapo (10-2) answered less than five minutes after the break with a restart goal of its own when Charlie O’Connor knocked home a corner kick to tie the game at 1, but Bergen Catholic’s pressure it two-fold. The Crusaders’ ability to possess the ball and make a defense chase and often leaves the opponent with the choice of desperate clearance, fouling in dangerous areas or risk up scoring opportunities within the flow of play.

When either of the first two choices is made, BC turns to its restarts like it did in just two minutes after Ramapo had tied the game. A foul 25 yards from the net just to the right of center left Escudero standing over a free kick that he bent around the left side of the wall and inside the far post to give Bergen Catholic the lead for good.

“Four restarts and we don’t have the answer for those. We are not physically capable of staying with them,” said Ramapo head coach Evan Baumgarten, referring to strength that BC brings to pile ups in front of the net. “Right after we scored they came right back with a direct kick and, unfortunately, we didn’t have time to build on any momentum we might have from our goal.”

Marco Escudero gave BC the lead for good on a free kick in the 48th minute.

Ramapo had one last legitimate chance to get back even when Gary Higgins won the end line to the right and cut back a cross that Tom Garrambone was able to volley on target, but BC keeper Christian Jannson pulled it down and BC got the hammer out over the final 20 minutes.

The Crusaders broke the game wide open with two goals in the final five minutes and both came on Pash throw-ins.

“I’ve been doing it for as long as I can remember, but it kind of helps that we have two guys over 6-2 in the back and they can head it in with ease,” said Pash of his long throws. “I think all of my teammates do [get excited when we win a throw] because, with their size, it is amazing to see how much of an offensive weapon it actually is.”

The win moves Bergen Catholic to 17-0-1 on the season and into the semifinals next week against second-seeded Cliffside Park, also a team that has yet to lose this season.

“This was not actually the best we have played. We certainly have played better earlier in the season, but if you can play like that and still win 4-1, then we’ll take it,” said Edge, who is obviously looking forward to next weekend. “This is going to be very interesting. There is always and intangible to this tournament that is a pleasure to be a part of and we glad to be where we are.”

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