November 9, 2011

Harrison Joao Conceicao (left) battles for possession with Whippany Park's Tony Roveto. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Whippany Park at Harrison Boys Soccer Photo Gallery

HARRISON – Giving up a game-tying goal in the last moments before halftime like the one Whippany Park's Tyler Raff scored might have triggered the emotional letdown capable of sinking a season for some teams. For Harrison, it served as the wakeup call it sorely needed.

The Blue Tide would respond with a pair of second half goals en route to a 3-1 victory over Whippany Park in the semifinals of the NJSIAA North 2, Group I playoffs.

"We went into the half time and we basically just said to them we'd like to be 1-0, but it's 1-1 and we need 'to control' the flow of the game," head coach Mike Rusek Jr. said.

Top-seeded Harrison (20-3) would accomplish just that with a more aggressive attack from the outside and using its team speed to its advantage.

The approach would pay off in the 48th minute as Joao Conceicao received a long pass from teammate Terry Gutierrez and would chip the ball over Wildcats goalie Anil Vegesna for the game-winning goal.

Senior captain Jason Cunha would lock up the win with a goal in the 79th minute assisted by freshman Leandro Gonzalez.

"We thought the best way to control this game was to get the ball out of the middle and it get it out wide," Rusek said. "We thought that's where we were able to win this game. I think in the second half we did a little bit more of that."

Early on, Harrison struggled to get off shots despite controlling the ball for the majority of the opening half, struggling to convert opportunities against Whippany Park's big defenders near the net.

It was at this point where senior Jair Torres forced matters into his own hands. The senior uncorked a booming kick from 35 yards over the defense and into the top far-corner of the net for the game's first goal in the 36th minute.

"We weren't getting enough shots so my plan was to shoot from outside and see what happens," said  Torres, who called it the biggest goal he ever had and added he didn't expect it to result in a score. "I shot it and scored."

"You don't plan a goal like that, but when it comes you're all smiles," Rusek said. "That was a beautiful goal."

Matthew Muchowski made eight saves for the Blue Tide in the win while Vegesna added nine for the Wildcats (14-7-2) in defeat.

With the victory Harrison will host the winner of today's Dayton/Glen Ridge game on Friday at 2 p.m. For Harrison, which has won more state soccer titles than anyone else in New Jersey, it marks the first time since 2008 that it has reached the sectional finals.

"Two years in a row we told them we lost at this moment. This seemed to be our hump," said Rusek, who was proud that his team reached the 20-win mark yesterday. "If we get over this, next game we're playing for a sectional championship. Winning that is an incredible accomplishment. It was a good, tough win in a round that has been tough for us."

Freshman midfielder Leandro Gonzalez assisted on a second half goal for Harrison. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Whippany Park at Harrison Boys Soccer Photo Gallery