Critelli leads in grounding of solid Garnet Gulls team
Shore Regional soccer team improves to 4-3
CHRIS KELLY Shore Regional’s Michael Crowell tries to beat out a Point Pleasant Beach defender during a game in Long Branch last week.
Though neither team had absolute control of the game, Shore Regional managed to find the back of the net twice for a win over Point Pleasant Beach Sept. 26.
The Blue Devils from West Long Branch improved to a 4-3 (3-2) record.
The win came thanks to the scoring foot of Thomas Critelli, who scored both goals in this Shore Conference B Central matchup.
"I thought both teams played well," said Shore Regional coach Rob Donohoe. "Point Pleasant Beach played a solid game. We just happened to put the ball into the net. At times I thought we played panicky a little bit. The kids need to get a little more composure.
"I brought up a couple kids today, and they played well for their first time on varsity. I thought Marc Hyndsman did a superb job in the goal to give us the shutout. A lot of other kids did little things that impressed me and won us the game."
After nearly 20 minutes of back-and-forth play, Shore finally broke the scoreless deadlock when Critelli took full advantage of a Point Beach foul.
Shore was awarded a direct kick five yards outside of the Garnet Gulls goal box, with Critelli hooking the ball inside the far post around a five-man wall.
Critelli padded the Blue Devils’ lead midway through the second half with his second goal, to build the lead to 2-0.
The senior forward dribbled the ball in front of the center of Point Beach’s goals, rifling a hook shot past a diving goaltender.
As Critelli, and the rest of Shore’s offensive front, was pressing toward Beach’s goal, their own defense was denying their guests.
Only a small handful of the Gulls’ 12 shots were solid, as the Blue Devils’ defense swarmed on the ball anytime it crossed midfield. Thanks to his fellow defensemen, junior goalie Marc Hyndsman was able to record this shutout behind 12 saves.
"The first half our defense was a little sluggish, but we picked things up from the start of the second half," said Hyndsman. "The few good opportunities they had throughout the game, our defense immediately stopped them."
Shore outshot Point Beach 17-12. The Blue Devils’ next two games put them on the road, as they travel to Mater Dei in Middletown on Friday, and Henry Hudson in Highlands on Tuesday. Both games are slated for 3:45 p.m. starts.