It was a chilly Saturday morning at Bob Roggy Memorial Field for a soccer game. But, the sun was shining and the Toms River East players and their fans arrived for the second round of the Shore Conference tournament. Toms River East, the 15 seed, faced off against #2 Holmdel. Holmdel got on the scoreboard first, just past the halfway mark of the first half. Brendan Wall passed the ball to Eric D'Aleo, who headed it into the goal for the first score. Then, with about 10 seconds remaining in the first half, Holmdel set up for a corner kick, and Wall picked up a second assist, to Jack Flanagan, who headed in a rebound, quite literally on the buzzer, for the second goal. What a way to end the half!
But, Toms River East didn't make the trip up to Holmdel to go away that quietly. Toms River east scored their first goal with a ground ball to the far post. Holmdel goalkeeper Tyler Marchiano had a hand on it and knocked it away but the referee ruled that is just crossed the line to make it 2-1. Toms River East was the lucky recipient of a Holmdel own goal, a rebound off a Holmdel player defending a free kick by TRE, with about 16 seconds remaining, to tie the game at 2 all.
Into overtime we went. The two teams battled back and forth until the final minute of the first overtime, when Andrew McStay, coming in off the bench, scored his first varsity goal. Overtime is "golden goal" or sudden death and the goal ended the game, giving Holmdel the 3-2 win.
Holmdel advances to the SCT quarter finals which will be played at home this Tuesday against #7 Jackson Memorial. Jackson Memorial won their game earlier today, against Lacey, on penalty kicks, after the 11th round. Last year, Holmdel defeated Jackson Memorial, who came into the game 20-0, in the semi-finals, to advance to the Shore Conference Finals.
The time for the Holmdel Boys game on Tuesday was not yet available.
The Girls play their SCT quarter final game on Monday at home at 3:30 against Central Regional. Please come out and help fill up the stands with cheering fans. I can't wait to see you there.
