Friday, October 30, 2009

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Nick Veenstra assisted on the goal that got Bergen Catholic even late in the second half before the Crusaders pulled off a 3-2 win at Passaic Valley in overtime.

LITTLE FALLS – After victories over Don Bosco Prep and Ramapo in the past week-and-a-half and still without a loss this season, the Bergen Catholic soccer team could be forgiven if it was feeling a little bit of an aura of invincibility. But the hustle and drive the Crusaders used to beat those two Bergen County powers was staring them right back in the face on Wednesday afternoon. Although Passaic Valley advanced to the Passaic County final before losing to Wayne Valley in overtime last week, the Hornets have proven to be one of the hardest working teams in North Jersey.

Bergen Catholic found that out first-hand when the Hornets grabbed an early two-goal lead.

Still trailing by a goal with five minutes to go, Bergen Catholic’s Marcelo Escudero missed a chance to tie the game. With the way PV’s stingy defense was playing, he knew it may have been his team’s last chance to hold onto their unbeaten record. But with under a minute left in regulation, Escudero got a second opportunity to tie the game and did just that.

Mike Libucha made a key save that kept Passaic Valley in front late in regulation.

He collected a ball in the box and scored with 40 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Just 36 seconds into the first extra session, Escudero blasted a left-footed volley into the side netting to cap a hat trick and keep Bergen Catholic undefeated with an exciting 3-2 triumph at Passaic Valley High School.

“We knew Passaic Valley was going to play hard, we didn’t know how tough they were though,” said Escudero, a senior striker. “Falling behind by two goals really opened our eyes. We know teams are going to come after us and they really came after us today.”

Passaic Valley’s Ryan Dunphy opened the scoring off of a feed from Giancarlo Reda. Dominick Capone followed with another goal to put the Hornets ahead, 2-0, less than 12 minutes into the match.

“Passaic Valley was first to the ball and first to the secondary balls, they were just playing harder than we were,” said Bergen Catholic head coach Mark Edge. “I think we were thinking of Sunday’s win [over Ramapo] a little too much. It’s a high school team, you can’t turn it on and off like a switch. If we wanted to come back, the first thing we had to do was match their intensity because for most of the game, they were outhustling us and we were lucky to get out of here with a win.”

Escudero answered back with a goal in the 18th minute to get Bergen Catholic to within a goal at the half, 2-1.

Chris Quinn and BC will play fellow unbeaten Cliffside Park in the Bergen County semifinals on Sunday.

The Crusaders tried to net the equalizer throughout the second half, but we held at bay by a strong Hornets’ defense. Only three of Bergen Catholic’s shots over the first 35 minutes of the second-half were on net. That was until Escudero was fed a through ball and beat an offsides trap. He raced in alone for what he thought was a certain game-tying goal. Passaic Valley goaltender Mike Libucha charged off of his line and got just enough of a fingertip on the shot to push it wide of the left post.

The Crusaders continued to attack, but now time was against them. Inside the final minute, they blocked a clearing attempt and Nick Veenstra tracked the ball down in the corner before it crossed the end line. He sent a low-liner through the box and right to the foot of a wide-open Escudero eight yards out. Escudero turned and fired one past Libucha to take the air out of the Hornets and tie the game at 2.

Passaic Valley might have been a little shell-shocked heading into overtime and before the Hornets even knew what hit them, the game was over.

Escudero collected a pass from Zach Craft and blasted a shot inside the right post to put the finishing touches on the Crusaders’ second big comeback of the season [they trailed Don Bosco by a similar 2-0 score] and clinch the league title

Passaic Valley will play Parsippanny Hills in the opening round of the state tournament.

For Passaic Valley (11-8-1), it was their second heartbreaking overtime loss in the last week, but will look to regroup in next week’s North 1, Group 3 state tournament. With close losses to Bergen Catholic, Wayne Valley, Don Bosco, Ridgewood, and Clifton this season, the Hornets know they can play with anyone. If the seventh-seeded Hornets can get past Parsippany Hills in the first round, they will likely get another crack at second-seeded Ramapo, who they lost to 2-1 in overtime in the second round of the states last year.

“This loss is a killer and our kids are hurting right now,” said Passaic Valley head coach Michael Couden. “Our defense played great all game. But it’s an 80-minute game, not a 79-minute one. We don’t feel there is anyone in North Jersey who is going to step on the field and dominate us. I thought we had it, but we have to move forward because we still have a lot to play for.”

Bergen Catholic (19-0-1) now has one title out of the way with its sights set on two more. First, they face off Sunday against North Jersey’s only other undefeated team, Cliffside Park, which is 14-0-1 and tied Tenafly last night, in the Bergen County Semifinals. The Crusaders also earned the top seed in Non-Public North A state tournament and will try to navigate through the deep bracket for its first section title of the decade.

“How hard Passaic Valley played today is how hard we have to play every minute of every game from this point on,” said Edge. “Every game now is an elimination game and this is what we play for. It’s real simple for us; it’s win or go home in both counties and states. Hopefully we took something out of this game and we’ll use that going forward.”

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