364 days ago, the Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys soccer team lost in the North Jersey Section Two Group Four semifinals. While this day is long gone, it has been lodged in the Raider players mind since it happened. A loss in the semifinals was something the returning players would never forget and Wednesday, Nov. 1 was their day for redemption.
Victory never tasted so sweet as SPF triumphantly beat the Ridge Red Devils 1-0 at Shimme Wexler Field in the semifinals of the North Jersey Section Two Group Four tournament. With the win, the Raiders move on to the finals, where they will face off against their biggest rival, Westfield.
A goal with 1:01 left in the first half by junior midfielder Caden Matulonis put the Raiders ahead and they never looked back. Sophomore Jayvon Young took a shot on goal that was stopped by Red Devil goalkeeper Oliver Perks. With the goalie unable to find the ball, Matulonis swooped in and placed it in the back of the net.
“Jayvon [Young] had a great run and I was there to tap it in. It feels great to help the team out any way I can,” Matulonis told The Fanscotian.
While Matulonis scored the lone goal of the day, the Raiders were excellent on the attacking front. From the start of the game they put pressure on the Ridge defense and were close to scoring many times.
“Today we generated quite a bit in attack and hopefully we can continue to do that,” Head Coach Alex Passucci said.
The combination of Young, Aaron Casterlow and Sam Valera all took countless shots on the goalkeeper. Along with this, the Raiders dominated possession and barely let Ridge do anything.
This was partially thanks to the Passucci brothers, who manned the midfield all game, providing themselves as outlets to start runs and put up shots. Soccer is a team sport, and the Raiders used all 11 men on the field to their advantage.
The few times the Red Devils started to attack, the SPF defense stopped them. Led by juniors Jack Sponheimer and Devin Pearce, nothing got by them, making it a relatively easy day for goalkeeper Jeffrey Dietrich. Dietrich was ecstatic after the victory, letting everyone know what he thought of his teammate.
“That’s two state games Caden [Matulonis] has come in clutch. He’s him!” Dietrich said.
The strong Raider defense was without freshman Ryder Richer, who is suffering from a lower body injury. Sophomore Bradley Pearce stepped in and the back line did not skip a beat.
“We talked about guys stepping up and certainly today, Bradley [Pearce] did a good job. That’s what we need from the guys that come in and some of the guys that aren’t always in the first 11,” Head Coach Passucci said.
Having Westfield as the final opponent is as perfect as it gets. One of the biggest rivalries in New Jersey will be showcased and it’s destined to be a game for the history books.
“There is nothing to not be excited about. I think the whole team is really pumped up for the game and you can’t ask for much more than that,” Matulonis said.
The stakes will only heighten the intensity, and pack the stands with cheering students.
“It’s good for the fans and it’s exciting. There’s always a lot of energy,” Head Coach Passucci said. “It’s not going to be easy, but we’re very much looking forward to the challenge.”
