Horner hits No. 34 to give Bordentown BCSL Patriot title
DELRAN >> Of all the goals Matt Horner has scored in his senior season with the Bordentown High boys soccer team, his 34th goal will hold a special place in his memory bank.
That goal came in a game to decide the Burlington County Scholastic League Patriot Division title Tuesday when the Scotties visited Holy Cross Academy.
Horner provided the only tally of the game as Bordentown defeated the Lancers, 1-0, to win the league title for a second consecutive season for head coach Mike Brennan’s squad.
With the teams both entering the game with 7-1-1 league marks, it looked as though they might have to share the crown as their final regular season tilt went scoreless for more than 70 minutes.
But with eight minutes remaining, Horner received a pass from his classmate Marcus Rios at the top of the box with three of Holy Cross’ defenders in his way.
Rios’ pass appeared to hit off the leg of one of the backs, but the rebound went to Horner, who dribbled between the other two defenders and kicked a low shot past Lancers senior goalkeeper Ryan McGee into the corner of the net.
“That goal’s way up there on my list,” Horner said, referring to the memorable goals of his career. “Marcus sent the ball in, and I turned on one defender. The ball went off his leg, and I got a lucky bounce, then I put it in the net. I guess I was in the right place at the right time.”
That is a common occurrence for players who score as much as Horner.
For a hard-working back like Rios, who has one goal and one other assist this season, it was a very memorable moment when he got to contribute in a way that gets noticed a little more than his marking.
“I was looking to help us get a goal and defend our goal,” he said. “Their defense was playing tough, so we had to play tough with them. It’s a very good feeling to be able to come away from here with (the Patriot Division crown).”
It was a difficult pill for Holy Cross head coach Thomas Guida’s players to swallow. Holy Cross imposing back line of Thomas Piersig, John Pakan and Joe Keller, plus marking back Ryan Keller did all it could to handcuff Horner most of the game, but will come away remembering the one time he broke through.
“I thought our defenders did a good job on him,” Guida said. “They worked hard. The goal came on a ricochet that hit someone.”
Guida had other things to be more concerned about after his team appeared to score 16 minutes into the second half, only to have the goal disallowed because of a foul in the box on his team.
When not helping keep the Lancers away from Bordentown’s net, Scotties senior back Dom Pisapia pushed forward to rip a shot just wide of the post in the last 10 minutes. But without the visitors being able to extend their lead, the home team kept charging down the stretch.
Patrick Harkanson sent a long serve on goal that B’town sophomore goalkeeper Sean Pedersen had to leap to snare with 1:30 remaining. Then Pedersen got crunched with 30 seconds to go when a Pakan came crashing into the net on a 50-50 ball from Harkanson.
Yet, the Lancers’ best efforts could not shake the special memory Horner attained when he connected on his 34th goal of 2016.
FLORENCE 3, RIVERSIDE 2 FLORENCE >> Nick Hazel’s two goals and another from Gagandip Kaler led the Flashes to a double overtime win over the Rams.
TCA 7, WILLINGBORO 0 HAMILTON >> Jose Cortez, Franklin Fiallos and Eric Perez had a goal and an assist to pace the Iron Mikes’ win over the Chimeras.
Darwin Salguero provided two assists as Trenton Catholic Academy reached .500. Bush, Cortez, Fiallos, Goll Jr., FLopez, EPerez, Watson (TCA). Cortez, Fiallos, EPerez, DSalguero 2 (TCA). 4 (W), 18 (TCA). Douglas 6, Davila 5 (W), EPerez 1, Bush 1, TJohnson 2 (TCA).
PALMYRA 3, NEW EGYPT 0 PALMYRA >> Ten saves by Warriors goalkeeper Tim Blomgren only managed to
Martin Ssessanga had a hat trick with an assist to direct the Falcons’ 12th win.
Brendan Mulligan and D.J. Palmer also had a goal and an assist versus the Griffins, while Paul Lewis dished out two assists. 3 (P). Armenta, Daranijo, Mulligan, Palmer, Ssessanga
Ssessanga, Dottino, Lewis 2, Mulligan, Palmer (P). 23 (P), 6 (SJV). Niglio 1, Watkins 3 (P), Ross 14 (SJV).
NJISAA PREP A SEEDINGS
Pennington and Peddie came away with the top two seeds when the New Jersey Independent Schools Athletic Association Prep A Tournament seedings were announced Tuesday.
The top-seeded Red Raiders will wait a week to host the winner of fifth-seeded Lawrenceville at fourth-seeded Blair Academy, which will be played at 3 p.m. Thursday.
The second-seeded Falcons will also wait until next Tuesday to host the winner of sixth-seeded Hun at third-seeded St. Benedict’s, which will be played at 2 p.m. Thursday at Riverfront Park in Newark.
The Prep A championship game is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 3 at the home site of the highest remaining seed.