Pennington, TCA still unbeaten after double OT draw

HAMILTON — Both the Pennington School and Trenton Catholic Academy boys’ soccer teams came into Thursday afternoon’s game unbeaten and looking to test themselves.

After 100 minutes of soccer, both are still without a loss following a spirited 0-0 draw on the pitch at TCA.

“It was a great high school soccer match,” said Pennington coach Chad Bridges. “Our guys knew they were coming in here for a battle. It was everything it was cracked up to be. We hyped it up and it certainly lived up to the billing.”

Don’t be fooled by the lack of goals. Both teams pushed the tempo with the tackles flying in, in the midfield.

The game featured six yellow cards — five for TCA and one for Pennington — and numerous fouls as both sides battled for control of the game.

The best chance of the game fell to Ethan Decker, the Red Raiders’ senior sensation headed to the University of North Carolina next year, in the 52nd minute. Decker shifted his way past three TCA defenders before curling a right-footed effort that was only inches wide.

“I cut it back on to my right field and when I hit it, I thought it was in,” Decker said. “But I didn’t get enough bend on it.”

With both teams feeling the fatigue, Decker again played a part in the only real scoring opportunity of the two overtime periods.

He headed Charlie Paige’s free kick into the path of Michael Bergen, but Bergen sailed his shot over the crossbar.

For TCA, its front pairing of Charles Wheaton and Fomba Tulay were using their pace to create issues for Pennington’s defense.

Tulay did well to ride the challenge of a Red Raider defender early in the second half and play a perfect through ball for Lendee Henry, but Pennington goalkeeper Jimmy Coyle was quick off his line and stopped Henry’s shot.

Wheaton found himself in the box two minutes later, but couldn’t steer his shot past a wellpositioned Coyle.

“Pennington’s a phenomenal team and that was a high-level game,” said Iron Mikes coach Sean Miller. “It was so much fun watching this game. This is where we’re trying to get this team to and it’s what we’ve been trying to do for the last three years. Hopefully, they learn from it.”

Both Pennington and TCA have a trip to Newark coming up to face state-powerhouse St. Benedict’s. The Red Raiders play the Gray Bees Saturday while the Iron Mikes get them Tuesday.

Naturally, both coaches feel like this result will help them as the season progresses.

“We’re a possession type team that likes to play a good brand of soccer, but the physical nature of this helps some of our younger guys that haven’t been in a game like this,” Bridges said. “It also reminds some of our older guys that there is some grit and determination needed if you are going to win. You can’t just step on the field because you were in the Mercer County championship and the state championship last year — you are going to have to earn it.”

“Playing in this game is going to help us going forward,” said Miller, who only returned four players that got regular minutes in last year’s loss to Pennington. “That game Tuesday is going to be a good test for us, but I think our guys are up for it. We have a very good team, but we’re also very young. We’re just starting to step up now and play in high-level games.”

They also agreed the result was fair — although both would have preferred a victory.

If they do meet again, there will be a winner because that game would be in the Mercer County Tournament.

“I told Sean let’s do it again,” Bridges said, before adding, “hopefully in the Mercer County championship game.”