By: Carolyn M. Hartko
The results of Wednesday’s quarterfinal match in this year’s Greater Middlesex Conference Boys’ Soccer Tournament spelled "Good Knight, Vikings," as Old Bridge eliminated fifth seeded South Brunswick 2-0. The fourth seeded Knights scored twice off corner kicks, once in each half, to send their Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division rival packing.
During the regular season, these teams fought to a 2-2 tie, and South Brunswick (8-7-2) took the rematch 1-0. So by the time tournament season rolls around, these teams are very familiar with each other’s style of play.
"There were no surprises," Viking head coach Mark Ziminski said. "Everybody knows, at this point, what everybody else does. It was just a matter of them making a couple of plays, and we didn’t, and that was the difference in the game."
Old Bridge got on the board in the seventh minute when Scott Gahagan converted a corner kick from Steve Villalobos. Viking keeper Anthony Clemente (six saves) went up for the ball, but got bumped in the play, dropping the ball. Midway through the second half, the Knights repeated the process when Steve Humiston scored off a John Leone corner kick.
"We had more than enough opportunities to score," Ziminski said. "At the end of the first half, we had a number of corner kicks and some re-starts, but we just didn’t get the ball in the goal. We had more than enough opportunities to score a goal or two, and we just didn’t get it done."
Forward Nick Clemente had two of those close calls, but once in each half he was thwarted by Old Bridge defender Ian Gorham who swept the balls off the line. Gorham backed up Anthony Pugliese in the first half, and Steve Karmel in the second. Each OB goalkeeper registered five saves. Thanks to their tight defense, the Knights (11-4-3) will face East Brunswick in the GMCT semis Saturday afternoon at Geick Park in Old Bridge.
"It was a tough loss for us, but I thought we played pretty well, as far as playing like a unified team," Ziminski concluded. "We played hard, and we played together."
All of the Vikings’ hopes will now be concentrated on the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV tournament. The seeding meeting is today (Thursday) and first round games must be completed by next Wednesday.

