WW-P North spoils L’ville’s return to county tournament
PLAINSBORO >> The return of the Lawrenceville School boys soccer team to the Mercer County Tournament did not go as the Big Red would have liked Tuesday.
It had been 30 years since Lawrenceville participated in the county tournament. The return pitted the Big Red against West Windsor-Plainsboro North, a school which did not open until 2000, three years before the MCT returned from its own 14year hiatus.
Even though 18th-seeded L’ville created plenty of anxious moments in the second half after falling behind by two goals, it could not hold down the resurgent, 15th-seeded Northern Knights, who pulled away for a 5-1 win in an MCT Play-In game.
With its third win in its last four games, WW-P North (5-11-1) advances to play at second-seeded Steinert (12-4-1) at 6 p.m. Thursday on Al Cowell Field in Hamilton’s Veterans Park.
“I had not,” Lawrenceville senior Teddy Gutman said when asked if he had heard a lot about the Mercer County Tournament while growing up in Mercer County.
Even with seven players who grew up in the county on their roster, the Big Red have always been more focused on their prep school schedule.
“It’s as big as any other game we play,” Gutman said.
The 2019 Northern Knights view counties as their chance to redeem a lost season. Finally healthy after a campaign filled with injuries, WW-P North came out determined to make things happen.
Junior forward Jean-Anthony Portuguez finished a pass from sophomore Luke Finkielstein 4:34 into the contest. Then, after Lawrenceville had recovered and evened out play for the remainder of the half, Finkielstein and Portuguez exchanged roles to add a second score with 7.7 seconds left before intermission.
“We had a lot of injuries this year,” Portuguez said. “Our lineup kept changing, and we adapted. Now guys are back.”
WW-P North’s improved play was almost lost in the first 26 minutes of the second half as the Big Red proceeded to outshoot the home team, 5-1, during that time, while Northern Knights sophomore goalkeeper Arnav Nair made four fine saves.
But after thwarting one of L’ville’s surges with 13:40 left, WW-P North senior forward Ayo Allison worked the ball upfield on a counter-attack and led Portuguez for his second goal.
The visitors did not let their efforts diminish and got the goal for which they had been looking with 5:12 left when junior fullback William Murray connected on a 35yard blast to make it, 3-1.
As the Big Red kept pushing forward, the Northern Knights took advantage when Allison followed his own shot, which was initially saved by Lawrenceville second-half goalkeeper Eric Morais, for his team’s fourth score with three minutes remaining.
Mark Chiriac capped the scoring when he knocked in a pass from Joe Lilleywhite with 1:55 left to spoil the Big Red’s return to the MCT by scoring his team’s 14th goal in its last four games.
“I think today we made a statement,” Portuguez said. “We don’t have the state tournament to focus on, so we’re focusing on the MCT.”
Lawrenceville(2-10-1) 0 1 — 1 WW-PNorth (5-11-1) 2 3 — 5
Goals: Murray (L), Portuguez 2, Finkielstein, Allison, Chiriac (WWN); Assists: Finkielstein, Portuguez, Allison, Lilleywhite (WWN). Shots: 10 (L), 12 (WWN); Saves: Flynn 4, Morais 3
(L), Nair 8 (WWN). STEMCivics(8-5) 3 2 — 5
Pemberton (1-12) 2 1 — 3
Goals: Ali 3, Molina 2 (SC), Jamaho, Theobrun, Bah (W); Assists: Mendoza 3, JRivera (SC), Turner, Jamaho (W).
Shots: 20 (SC), 8 (P); Saves: Espana 5 (SC), Turner 15 (W).
FLORENCE 6, PENNSAUKEN 3 PENNSAUKEN >> The Flashes stopped a two-game skid by running past the Indians.
Florence (12-3) 3 3 — 6 Pennsauken(6-8-1) 1 2 — 3