Monday, October 16, 2009

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Kazim Uyaroglu scored the game-winner for Cliffside Park four minutes into the second half of a 2-1 win over Paramus Catholic in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals

FRANKLIN LAKES – Paramus Catholic head coach Lenny Lewandowski had a plan heading into his team’s quarterfinal matchup but what he really needed to make it stick against second seeded and undefeated Cliffside Park was a lead to play with.

“Our strategy was we needed to be up 1-nil. If that ball [a shot by Zach Reed in the third minute] goes in or the breakaway that Keegan [Carter] had early goes in, we would have had a stranglehold and I don’t think they would be able to compete with us in the middle of the park,” said Lewandowski, who used an alignment that included up to six midfielders at any time. “What would have happened was their backs would have had to bypass the midfield and launch long balls and we were ready for that.”

On paper it was perfect, but when Reed’s volley clipped the top corner of the framework and clanged out, and when Carter’s chance dribbled wide to the right, Paramus Catholic’s strategy went up in smoke and it was Cliffside Park that scored first and last in a 2-1 win at Ramapo High School.

Joe Han pushed up on a strong diagonal run toward the right corner and then sent in a low cross to the middle of the goal where Xau Paz, one of Bergen County’s best pure scorers, drew his usual gaggle of defenders and PC keeper Kevin Murley toward the ball. A scrum ensued but the ball kept rolling right to Luiz Quiroz, who took a touch then buried the game’s first goal inside the right post.

Keegan Carter's speed helped Paramus Catholic to some of its most dangerous chances.

But the 1-0 halftime lead was little consolation to Cliffside head coach Jim Fucci, who used some not-so-gentle persuasion on his players at the break.

“In the first half they were just answering us. We couldn’t get anything going and it seemed like when we got a ball somewhere they had four or five guys around the ball and, honestly, I think our guys got scared,” said Fucci. “That is what I said to them at halftime, are you scared? You are not getting shot at, you are not in Iraq, you are going home to a house and your parents still love you. It’s high school soccer and you are scared? I said, ‘Let’s play, dude. Let’s play the game that you can play.”

Fucci coupled his motivation with some tactical adjustments. He moved Luis Quiroz, a two-year varsity starter at stopper to outside fullback, switched Kazim Uyaroglu back from the midfield to stopper and moved Roberto Menendez up to center mid. Eventually the changes would bear fruit, but not until after the game was tied.

Paramus Catholic got even just 1:07 into the second half when Jonathan Krzysik corralled a corner kick, deftly took on touch and then ripped a shot inside the second post to even the game at 1.

Roberto Menendez moved into the midfield as part of a switch that paid off for Cliffside Park.

The deadlock did not last long; in fact it was in effect for just 76 seconds as Menendez centered a ball for Uyaroglu, who hit the upper shelf in the middle of the net to put Cliffside ahead for good.

“After they scored our guys were shocked, but we tried to stay calm. There was plenty of time left in the second half and we were going to get it back,” said Uyaroglu, who took the time to settle Menendez’s feed before ripping it on net. “I got the ball and I saw a little bit of space in front of me. I took a little touch and then just shot it. Luckily it went right over the goalie.”

But there were still over 36 minutes remaining on the clock and the rest of the game was a chess match as PC’s two talented midfielders, Carter and Najem inched back into the defensive third in order to gain possession and Cliffside tried to keep the pressure off its outside backs, who were getting pinned in the lower corners early, but rallied late.

“We didn’t want to defend their outside midfielders deep in our back third because that is taking away from our attack. But you saw that happen quite a bit today,” said Fucci. “Beginning of the second half they were getting our outside halfbacks pinned in bad spots and we had to move some things around.”

Exau Paz and Cliffside Park will take on Bergen Catholic in next weekend's county semifinal.

The last 10 minutes were entertaining as Paramus Catholic pushed forward and Cliffside, rather than balling up in the back, countered at every opportunity. Cliffside’s Guiseppe Fabrizio worked a 1-2 with Menendez and was in before taken down just outside the box, but the free kick from a dangerous spot was high of the mark.

With 8:33 to go, Carter made a slicing run and then cut back a hard shot that forced Cliffside keeper Pedro Sanchez down with difficulty. The Red Raiders held on from there and earned a spot in the semifinals opposite Bergen Catholic, a co-unbeaten.

“I am going to be honest, I think we match up better with Bergen than we did with PC. They are going to kick the [stuffing] out of us next week and we know that going in,” said Fucci. “They are going to kick the [stuffing[ out of us, but I don’t know if they are going to be able to stay with our speed. I am not taking anything away from them. They have big dudes in the back, and we have to be elusive next Sunday because if we are not elusive you might as well park four ambulances out there.”

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