NBC, Florence boys’ soccer teams post needed wins

Sean Moylan Sports Writer
A strong game by the opposition’s goalie prevented the Northern Burlington High boys’ varsity soccer team from having to play a second half game of “keep away” in a 4-0 victory over Medford Tech at home this past Monday.
    “I think they (Medford Tech) were excited that they weren’t seven-goaled,” said NBC boys’ soccer coach Tim Tesdeco, whose club dominated each and every aspect of the game. “They literally had no shots. I think the ball got to my goalie (steve Fenstermacher) once the entire game.”
    On that play, one of the Medford players kicked the ball from midfield, and Fenstermacher just ran to it and picked it up. With a pair of tallies, Matt Glodack was the Greyhounds’ top scorer in the game. His first goal was assisted by Dave Specca. Brandon Korneluk and Brandon Cominsky also netted goals for NBC, which led 3-0 at the half.
    “Brandon Comisky had a nice goal. He’s always at the right place at the right time,” added Tedesco.
    Northern Burlington blasted 24 shots on goal, but only four went past the goal line.
    “We’re just not taking good shots,” said Tedesco. “I think we’ve won time of possession in every game we’ve played.”
    Nonetheless, Joe Larkins had a strong defensive game and Medford Tech’s attack only crossed midfield a handful of times.
    Last Friday, Northern Burlington lost a very tough 2-0 decision to Delran at home.
    “That was really a disappointing loss. We had the better of play the entire game,” said Tedesco. We made two mistakes and they turned around and capitalized on them.”
    The defense in the Bears-Greyhounds’ game was brilliant on both sides as neither team took more than five shots on goal. Fenstermacher made three saves in defeat. The Bears scored twice in the first half and those goals held up.
    NBC has got to be one of the best 3-3 soccer teams in all of New Jersey. But even so, Tedesco would love to see more goals go in the net for his team.
    NBC was scheduled to have played a game at Westampton Tech this past Wednesday. Northern Burlington is scheduled at Rancocas Valley on Friday. Then next Tuesday, Northern Burlington is scheduled to host Burlington Township.
    FHS, BRHS
    The Bordentown High boys’ varsity soccer team wanted to win this past Monday’s game at Florence. But desperate for a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt, Florence needed to win the game and it did on a D.J Pittenger goal with under two minutes remaining in regulation.
    After his Flashes had beaten a faster Scotties’ team 3-2, Florence head coach Mike Flynn commented, “We caught a lucky break today (Monday). Today we were missing five starters, but a lot of guys stepped in and played well.”
    The Flashes used their small field to perfection, keeping large numbers back and striking at just the right times.
    “Flynn is a very good coach and I have as much respect for him as anyone out there. The way he had them ready to play was perfect for their style of play,” said Bordentown’s always classy head boys’ varsity soccer coach Mike Brennan. “ We scored a goal (by Zach Bohanon) and Florence did not give up a little bit with their style of play. I was outcoached today (Monday).”
    Peter Paye scored Bordentown’s first goal. Cory Haluska headed in Florence’s first goal in the first half off a Pittenger feed. And Pittenger, who has speed to burn, scored twice on breakaways.
    “We knew we couldn’t go up and down the field with them so we picked our chances. We took maybe five quality shots and we scored on three of them,” said Flynn.
    “We probably outshot them by 15,” added Brennan. Florence’s goalie Zack Ronyack and the entire Flashes’ defense all had good games. Milo Milosovici assisted on one of Pittenger’s goals.
    Last Thursday, one of the best Palmyra soccer teams in years defeated Florence, 3-1, at Palmyra.
    “Against Palmyra we played well. Our offense just wasn’t clicking that day and we made some critical mistakes,” said Flynn. Pittenger, however, did knock in a first-half tally.
    Then last Friday at Florence, Burlington City beat Florence, 2-1, with a late goal in the second overtime period.
    “It was 1-1 going into overtime. And with a minute left you’re almost resigned to the fact it would end in a tie. But with a minute left in overtime, someone had a free kick form 30 feet and the ball deflected off of one of guys and into our (goal),” said Flynn.
    Previously, Milosovici had scored on a penalty kick early in the second half to tie the game at 1-1. Ronyack made 10 saves in the contest for Florence.
    Bordentown also struggled offensively in a 4-0 home loss to Cinnaminson last Thursday.
    “The Cinnaminson game was also a very tough one. We were hanging with them almost the entire first half,” said Brennan, whose team could never quite recover after the Pirates scored a goal four minutes before halftime. “Cinnaminson is full of talent from top to bottom.”
    Nevertheless, with 12 saves, Bordentown goalie Chris Schaeffer had a pretty good game versus Cinnaminson.
    At 4-3, Bordentown is still in pretty good shape for the playoffs but it does have some tough games on its schedule this week. Bordentown was scheduled to have hosted Delran yesterday (Wednesday). Bordentown is scheduled at Holy Cross on Friday. Next Tuesday Bordentown is scheduled to host Trenton Catholic Academy.
    In many ways, the win over Bordentown saved the Flashes’ season.
    “Now every game for us is like a playoff game,” said Flynn, whose team is 2-5. Florence was scheduled to have hosted Riverside yesterday (Wednesday). It is scheduled at Maple Shade on Friday, Moorestown Friends on Monday and Pemberton on Tuesday.