The Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys soccer team, the second seed in the 2015 North Jersey II, Group IV sectional playoffs, defeated the 15^th seeded Millburn Millers 3-0 in the first round of sectionals on Nov. 3 at Wexler Field.
 
Senior Brian McManus got the Raiders on the scoreboard early when, less than ten minutes into the game, he put a shot past the Millburn goalkeeper to make the score 1-0.
 
“I thought they came out with relatively good intensity in the beginning of the match,” said coach Tom Breznitsky.
 
The game stayed close for the rest of the first half until SPFHS scored two in the final five minutes of the half to put the game out of reach.
 
Senior Zach Cimring scored the first one when he redirected a corner kick taken by his brother senior Jordan Cimring into the back of the net with about four minutes remaining.
 
Senior Ari Rosenzweig then upped his season goal total to 25 when he received a cross right in front of the goal and tapped it in for the Raiders third goal.
 
The Raiders had many chances throughout the rest of the game, but could not convert on the opportunities, as the Millburn keeper made some nice saves and some shots went wide.
 
Defensively, Sean Murray and Raider back four were not troubled much on the day, but made the plays when they were called upon.
 
“In the state tournament,” said Breznitsky, “it doesn’t have to be pretty. You win, you advance, that’s the main objective.”
 
SPFHS plays the tenth seeded William L. Dickinson High School Rams in the quarterfinals on Friday Nov. 6.