Wednesday, November 18, 2009

By Jack Cognetta
NJS.com Multimedia Coordinator

BRIDGEWATER -- The defending Group 2 state champions will get a chance to repeat. The Cliffside Park Red Raiders knocked off Ramsey 1-0 in the Group 2 semifinals sending the Red Raiders to the championship game on Saturday.

The only goal of the game came on an "own goal" 20 minutes into the first half. On a free kick, Cliffside Park senior Kazim Uyarolgu's shot was accidentally put in goal by a Ramsey defender.

Cliffside Park junior goal-tender Pedro Sanchez made some big saves down the stretch to keep it a 1-0 game. The win for Cliffside Park marked a sweet measure of revenge. In 2007, Ramsey defeated the Red Raiders in the Group 2 semifinals.

Cliffside Park will look to win their second straight Group 2 state championship on Saturday at Hillsborough High School where it will play Delran for all the marbles.

In this NJS Audio Report, here reaction from Cliffside head coach Jim Fucci, Red Raider goalkeeper Pedro Sanchez and Ramsey head coach Jaime Phillips.