Boys Soccer

September 15, 2009

Bruins, Tigers duel ends in draw

Oliver Garcia North Bergen

Despite many scoring chances late, Oliver Garcia and the Bruins settled for a tie.

Click Here for more photos from Memorial at North Bergen.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

NORTH BERGEN – After meeting in the last three HCIAA Coviello finals, there’s no denying that Memorial and North Bergen has become one of the area’s best rivalries.
The HCIAA may be gone, but the rivalry is as strong as ever.

“It’s always a rivalry, the kids know each other so they’re going to play harder,” North Bergen coach John Belluardo said. “It’s always a terrific game. It’s always a one-goal game that can go back and forth any time.”

Last night was no exception. After 100 minutes of action, round one between the Bruins and Tigers ended in a split decision – a 1-1 draw in front of a raucous crowd at Bruins Stadium.

“As a visiting team, we’re not disappointed (with the tie),” Memorial coach Albert De Los Reyes said. “We feel that we took the point away from North Bergen. They’re going to come to us (later in the season) and try to take a win.”

It’d be hard to blame either team for being relieved to walk out with a point in the standings. Not after that mentally and physically draining affair between the two.

Both teams had their opportunities in overtime, but neither could break through. Memorial (0-0-2) had a header hit the crossbar in the first overtime period.

In the second overtime North Bergen (1-0-1) appeared poised to break the tie, but Tigers goalkeeper Kevin Fuentes would have none of that. The sophomore made five saves on the night, but his most impressive one might have been a kick save in the second overtime to turn away the Bruins’ Ricardo Franco.

 

In the 76th minute, Fuentes ensured the game would head into overtime when he punched away a long direct kick from Christian Villalta.

In the 56th Fuentes made consecutive saves on William Cardenas and Cesar Ventura.

“We had a lot of great opportunities to score that didn’t go in the net,” Belluardo said. “(Fuentes) made a couple of spectacular saves coming down the stretch.”

Ventura would get his revenge less than 10 minutes when he headed in the game-tying score over Fuentes. John Gusman assisted on the goal.

“I think we had a lot more opportunities in the second half,” Belluardo said. “I think we had them on their heels once we broke the trap.”

The Bruins’ success in the second half was a stark contrast to the first half when they struggled with the Tigers’ trap. Memorial had the upper hand for most of the first 40 minutes of the game. But a North Bergen defense led by goalie Jesus Solis (four saves) kept it scoreless.

The Tigers’ Fernando Alvarez opened the scoring with just 30 seconds left in the first half. After a booming free kick from Christopher Segovia, Alvarez was able to sneak through the defender and placed the ball inside the right post.

It was a hard-fought game for both teams and with a very strong group of teams in Hudson County, both Belluardo and De Los Reyes know that this is merely the beginning of a challenging season.

“We have a very tough schedule,” De Los Reyes said. “There are obstacles that we’ll have to overcome. Every team is going to be strong in this league.”

Tayron Larquin Memorial

Tayron Larquin and Memorial have earned ties in both of their games this season.

 
1st
2nd
OT
Total
Memorial (0-0-2)
1
0
0
1
North Bergen (1-0-1)
0
1
0
1
 
M: Fernando Alvarez (Christopher Segovia) 40th minute
NB: Cesar Ventura (John Gusman) 65th minute
 

Goalies: M: Kevin Fuentes (5 saves); NB: Jesus Solis (4 saves).