Boys Soccer

October 29, 2009

Harrison rallies to down Prep

Bryan Aguilar Harrison

Harrison's Bryan Aguilar scored twice in six minutes against St. Peter's Prep.

Click Here for more photos from St. Peter's Prep at Harrison.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

HARRISON – While the Blue Tide have collected wins in the BCSL National wins and Group I titles over the years, one thing they have not had the chance to prove is that they are the undisputed best team in Hudson County.

This year’s inaugural Hudson County Tournament has given Harrison that opportunity and thus far they have taken full advantage. The second-seeded Blue Tide used a trio of second half goals to down St. Peter’s Prep 3-1 in the semifinals of the Hudson County Tournament.

“We said that this was the first real Hudson County Tournament because they invited us and Kearny in,” Harrison coach Mike Rusek Jr. said. “We wanted to be in the finals and we think it’s a great thing for us and Kearny to be in there after not being in it.”

After a first half where Rusek told his team “it looked like St. Peter’s wanted it more,” Harrison (17-2) turned things around in the second behind the play of Bryan Aguilar.

Trailing 1-0, Aguilar scored twice in a span of six minutes to put the Blue Tide on top and give them the spark they desperately needed.

“In my opinion the best player in the county is Bryan Aguilar and he showed it tonight,” Rusek said.

In the 50th minute, Aguilar took a pass from Jerry Enciso and with Marauder goalie Mark Zatta closing in, Aguilar chipped it over Zatta’s head and into the net for the tying score.

Just five minutes later after Zatta stopped an Omar Flores shot in front of the net, Aguilar buried the rebound inside the left post. The goal gave Harrison a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish.

“He’s a quality player and when he has room around the goal, he’s probably going to finish it,” St. Peter’s Prep coach Josh Jantas said. “He proved that tonight.”

No. 3 seeded St. Peter’s Prep (13-6-1) mounted a charge late but Blue Tide goalie Jose Fernandes kept the score 2-1. Fernandes turned away a Dan Bellido header in the 60th minute.

The Marauders’ greatest chance came in the 71st minute, but once again came away empty-handed when Kevin Cevasco’s header off an Andrew Romero free kick struck the post before Fernandes smothered the loose ball to end the play.

“Two players were by the back post and I saw it headed off the post and I saw the loose ball and I just jumped on it,” Fernandes said about the play.

Kyle Lourenco iced the game when he blasted a shot off the crossbar and in from 25 yards out in the 78th minute.

Fernandes made fives saves in net for the Blue Tide in the win. Zatta made four stops for St. Peter’s Prep.

The Marauders opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Ryan Baird headed in a cross from Tim Gonzalez. St. Peter’s Prep tried to take advantage of their height and leaping ability in the box throughout the game but was unable to convert that into any additional goals. Most notably, the Marauders had a Bellido header go off the crossbar midway through the period.

“On the corners and restarts we thought that was something we could take advantage of,” Jantas said. “Unfortunately we came close, but couldn’t tuck away some of those opportunities in the first half.”

With the victory, Harrison advances to face No. 1 seed Kearny in the final of the Hudson County Tournament on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Blue Tide wanted their chance to show they’re the county’s best and for them the only thing sweeter than being champs would be to beat their long-time rival in the process.

“The rivalry’s been huge for almost 100 years,” Rusek said. “This time we’re playing for something. We’re playing for an official county championship so we’re looking for a lot of fireworks. It’s going to be some day.”

Tim Gonzalez St. Peter's Prep

Tim Gonzalez assisted on the Marauders' first half goal to take a 1-0 lead.

 
1st
2nd
Total
St. Peter's Prep (13-6-1)
1
0
1
Harrison (17-2)
0
3
3
 
SPP: Ryan Baird (Tim Gonzalez) 12th minute
H: Bryan Aguilar (Jerry Encisco) 50th minute
H: Aguilar (Omar Flores) 55th minute
H: Kyle Lourenco (Kevin Lourenco) 78th minute

 

Goalies: H: Jose Fernandes (5 saves); SPP: Mark Zatta (4 saves).