By: Carolyn M. Hartko
NORTH BRUNSWICK This year’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament ended in dramatic, but disappointing fashion for the South Brunswick High boys’ soccer team.
The Vikings were eliminated by top-seeded North Brunswick in a shootout that finished under the lights in Steve Libro Stadium Wednesday evening. The Raiders connected on their first four penalty kicks during the shootout, while only Anthony Rettino scored for the Vikings.
"It’s a tough way to decide a game, but that’s the rule, and that’s what happened," said Viking head coach Chris Hayston, whose team forced the extended play by rallying from a 2-0 deficit.
North Brunswick had the better part of the play during the first half and took their lead on two goals by Kevin Blanco 10 minutes apart.
The Vikes began to take control in the second half. Sixteen minutes in, Rettino tallied on a header, beating North Brunswick keeper Danny Peragallo to the right. In the 27th minute, Anthony Vaverka put in another header, this one off a corner kick by Jilmar Perez.
"Unfortunately, in the first half they made some plays, and we didn’t counter," Hayston said. "In the second half, we made the plays."
Neither team could make a play to produce a goal in the two, 10-minute overtimes, which sent the contest into the shootout.
The Vikings were outshot 15-9 in regulation and OT, but their defense kept the score even.
Keeper Matt Hart registered 13 saves. He had some help from midfielder Teddy Polk, who cleared two balls from the goal line. The biggest play came two minutes into the second overtime when Hart dove to bat one shot out, and Polk was there to stop the rebound.
