Ties generally leave teams with an empty feeling. In the case of the 2-2 draw between Howell and Manalapan last Wednesday, enough good things happened for both soccer teams for them to think positively about the outcome.
JEFF GRANIT staff Manalapan goalkeeper Jake Grinkevich clears the ball over the goal during his team’s recent 2-2 game against Howell. For the visiting Braves, it was another affirmation that they are back playing at a very high level again. After starting the season with a 6-2 loss to Christian Brothers Academy and then shortly following with a 4-0 defeat at home to rival Howell, the Braves had not only dug a hole for themselves in the Shore Conference A North Division, but were questioning if they had what it takes to win.
Senior Adam Rice, one of the Braves’ cocaptains, said it took some time for the team to adjust to all the new players and find its chemistry. Entering last week’s showdown with an 8-2 record, the Braves had obviously turned things around.
“We’re moving in the right direction; our effort has been there,” he said. “After our loss to CBA, we knew we had to change things, and it started with effort.
“We couldn’t rely on last year’s guys,” he added. “It was going to take everyone.”
From the Howell viewpoint (9-2 going into the match), the positive was the team’s comeback from a 2-0 deficit in the second half against a team that generally doesn’t surrender two-goal leads.
“We were not giving up,” said Calafiore, who had a hand, or rather foot, in both Howell goals. “We needed to win this game.
You leave frustrated because a tie is a tie, but we can still win A North,” he added.
The 2-2 tie put the championship race off until this week. With two division games remaining for the two teams, both know that if they win their games, the worst they can do is share the title.
Manalapan appeared to be in the driver’s seat Wednesday when Rice slammed home a goal just 4:15 into the second half. That lifted the Braves to a 2-0 lead with 35:45 left in the match.
Howell had generated the better scoring opportunities in the first half only to have the Braves leave the field with a 1-0 lead off Greg Grzelak’s goal at 21:40. Now, with Rice converting early in the second half, Howell’s prospects against a tough defense didn’t look good.
But Howell, as Calafiore pointed out, was not giving up. Playing the ball to their feet and building their attack wide, Howell started to attack the Manalapan goal. Kyle Bethel got pulled down in the goal area, and Howell had a chance to get on the scoreboard with a penalty kick. Calafiore converted, and it was 2-1 with 27:12 remaining.
The penalty put an extra step in the Rebels, and they were coming at the Braves in waves. They would strike again when Joe Parella poked in a perfect crossing pass from Calafiore with 13:28 left in the match.
With both teams knowing the importance of the game, neither team was going to settle. In the final 12 minutes, the action was end to end and the scoring chances were multiplying.
Braves goalie Jake Grinkevich made a diving save off a Calafiore head.
For Manalapan, George Quintano’s chip with the back of his foot barely sailed over Howell’s crossbar.
All the action couldn’t produce a goal, and the match went into sudden-death overtime, where the action ebbed and flowed with both goaltenders in control.
Manalapan, which had played one less division game than Howell entering Wednesday’s game, caught up to the Rebels on Friday when the Braves, playing at home, beat Colts Neck 5-1, leaving both teams 9-2-1 in A North play.
Adam Rice scored once and assisted on two goals, and Quintano struck twice for the Braves, who presented coach John Natoli with his 200th career win at Manalapan.
This week, Howell hosted Middletown South (Monday) and travels to Marlboro this afternoon.
Manalapan closes with Middletown North (Monday) and Freehold Township, today. Both matches are on the road.

