Jackson Memorial High School’s Eddie Guippone (l) heads the ball in front of Howell High School’s Brian Lopes during the Jaguars’ NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV first round game, played on their home pitch. Jackson won this game 1-0 and has advanced to the Nov. 20 final, where the top-seeded Jaguars were to play Monroe Township High School for the sectional championship. JEFF GRANIT staff Jackson Memorial High School’s boys soccer team showed its character to coach Steve Bado when it rallied from behind twice to beat Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 3-2, in the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV on Nov. 16. The win advanced the Jaguars to the finals for the first time since 2002, when they lost to Shawnee High School.
Jackson Memorial is scheduled to play in the finals on Nov. 20 at home against Middlesex County champion Monroe Township High School, which advanced to the finals on Nov. 16 with a 1-0 victory over Hillsborough High School, the No. 5 ranked team in the state at the time. Jackson Memorial was No. 13 in the latest state rankings coming into this week. The winner of the sectional final advances to the state semifinals later this week at Neptune against the winner of the South Jersey Group IV championship game between Absegami High School and Washington Township High School played on Nov. 19.
“This shows the character of a team that’s been working hard all year,” Bado said following his team’s victory over Hunterdon Central, as his team set a school record for wins off that game with a 23-1 record. The 1990 team had 22 victories and won the Group IV title.
“Most of the time, we’ve been wining games and this time we weren’t down once, but twice, and the seniors responded,” Bado continued. “There was a lot of character shown in this win. Teams could’ve put their heads down falling behind twice, but these guys showed a lot of resilience. They were not ready for the season to end.”
Matt Fryc scored two goals, including the game-winner with seven minutes left when he controlled an indirect kick taken by Ryan Young and beat the goalie from six yards out into the lower right corner. Fryc has 20 goals this season.
Entering its state playoff run, Jackson Memorial bounced back from a 3-1 loss to Holmdel High School in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals in its last game before the tournament.
“We did bounce back,” Fryc said. “We couldn’t take the pain of losing another game and the hurricane (weeklong break) gave us a lot of time [to get ready]. We came out with a lot of fire.
“I believe in these guys. I thought we’d bounce back,” Fryc added.
Against Hunterdon Central, goalie Devyn Josko came off the line against a breakaway opportunity and forced the shooter to chip the ball just wide. Josko shut out the two previous state tournament opponents — 1-0 over Howell High School and 4-0 over East Brunswick High School — to raise his total to 14 shutouts this season.
Bado has warned his team to be wary of Monroe.
“They have six losses, and I know they won their county tournament and have not lost in a month,” Bado said. “The key is defense and the [play of the] forwards, even the midfield. And at this point, it’s that way for them, too. It has to be a team effort.”
“We have to just keep on doing what we’ve been doing all season. Why change it now?” Fryc said. “This is a well rounded team and our goalkeeper keeps us in games.”
That was evident from the start against Hunterdon Central when Jackson Memorial fell behind three minutes in and tied it two minutes later when Garrett Muzikowski found Fryc at the top of the box for a high blast beyond the reach of the goalie into the net.
Hunterdon Central went back ahead late in the first half and Anthony Mandola tied it 12 minutes into the second half when he headed in a long throw-in from defender Tom DeNoville into the box.
“We have three guys who can throw it in [deep] — DeNoville, Mandola and Muzikowski,” Bado said.
Teamwork showed in the second round game when Mandola, Fryc, Young and Oscar Rojas scored against East Brunswick, as the Jaguars broke open a 2-0 halftime lead. Dylan Greenblatt, who is nursing a hamstring injury that left his status questionable for the Monroe game, scored the goal in the state opener against Howell 15 minutes into the game.