With a win against Newark East Side on Nov. 12, the No. 1 seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys soccer team advanced to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 finals, where they will face off against the No. 2 Westfield Blue Devils. The finals will take place on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 p.m., at Shimme Wexler Field between the top two seeds of the tournament, where the Raiders will look to capture their first sectional title since 2016.
“[Playing in the finals] is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I feel blessed that [the team and I] are here,” junior goalkeeper Shawn Guzman told The Fanscotian.
Coming into the finals, the Raiders boast a record of 17-1-2, with their only loss coming against the rival Blue Devils. Westfield on the other hand, has two losses to their name, and are attempting to win their third straight sectional title. The opponent will only raise the level of intensity and competition at the game, as if it were not high enough.
“You dream of this as a kid,” Guzman said. “When I was playing SPF travel and I was nine years old, I dreamt of playing against Westfield in the finals.”
This game will be the rubber match of the Scotch-Plains Fanwood-Westfield series this year, after two previous close battles. The first of the two, an away game on Oct. 10 that went into overtime, resulted in a Raiders loss, their first and only of the season. SPF became victorious in the latter of the two, on Oct. 26, which also happened to be the Union County Championship.
With both these games in mind, Guzman and the Raiders know what to expect when facing the Blue Devils, and just have to step onto the field and perform.
“We know what they’re best at and how to go against them,” Guzman said. “We know how they play, who they target on throw-ins and on corners.”
Just one year ago, these two teams faced off in the same game, but the location was flipped as Westfield was the higher seed. Guzman believes playing at home will only help SPF, and is looking forward to kickoff.
“It feels nice to [play at home]. We’re undefeated right now at home, so hopefully we keep that going,” Guzman said.
