Metuchen boys soccer team making history
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Metuchen's Pat Boffoto battles with Burlington's Nick Priest for the ball during the Bulldogs' Group I semifinal win at Toms River North on Nov. 14.

METUCHEN - For the first time in school history, the Metuchen High School boys soccer team played in the NJSIAA Group I title game over the weekend.

The Bulldogs advanced to the finals with a 1-0 win over Burlington City in the Group I semifinals Nov. 14 at Toms River High School South.

The Bulldogs survived an early onslaught from the Burlington City offense to battle the South Group I champions to a scoreless first half.

"They put a tremendous amount of pressure on us in the first 10 minutes of the game," Metuchen head coach Ken Graf said. "We held it together and neutralized their attack. I think the early pressure got us really focused."

The Bulldogs had few scoring opportunities in the first half. The team's best chance to take a first-half lead came on a shot by Chris Pisano. Pisano just missed the mark, sending his shot ricocheting off the crossbar.

"We didn't have many shots on goal in that first half," Graf said. "Burlington City had a player that could provide them with some long throw-ins which put the ball in front of our goal on a number of occasions. Our guys really marked up well and prevented Burlington City from cashing in on those long throw-ins."

Pisano and fellow defenders Brian Antosiewicz, Bryant Riquelme and Bill Latta had answers for everything the Burlington City offense could throw at them. Antosiewicz also came through at the opposite end of the field. It was his assist that set up Adam Floeck's score with 18:48 left on the clock that proved to be the game-winner.

"Floeck beat the goalie for his first goal of the season," Graf said. "Needless to say, it was a very timely score."

Burlington City was not ready to call it a day before mounting a threatening attack in the game's final 10 minutes.

"They put the pressure on to get the equalizer," Graf said. "They had a really good chance to put one in, but our guys continued to mark up really well."

The Dogs withstood the pressure and advanced to the Group I title game to face Harrison. Harrison advanced to the finals with a 2-0 win over Waldwick. The two teams squared off on Saturday at Hillsborough High School.

(Editor's note: coverage of that game will appear in the Nov. 29 edition of the Sentinel.)

"I know Harrison has a number of good goal scorers," Graf said prior to the game. "They have a couple of guys with 20 or more goals, so we'll have to do a good job of limiting their chances."

Harrison is no stranger to title games, having won four of the past five Group II titles. This season marks the first year the school is competing as a Group I school.

"It will definitely be a good challenge for us," Graf said. "It's definitely an exciting time for Metuchen teams. It was really nice to be able to see the girls advance to their title game on the same field right before our game. You don't get opportunities like that too often."