Hunterdon Central edges WW-P North in semifinals
FLEMINGTON >> Although the West Windsor North High School boys soccer team was able to do a lot this year, in the end it was left with the frustrating thought it might very well have done more.
After a disappointing quarterfinal round exit in a Mercer County Tournament it entered as the top seed, West Windsor North was bounced from the Central Jersey Group IV bracket Monday afternoon in a 2-1 semifinal loss at Hunterdon Central.
It’s true top-seeded Hunterdon Central (14-3-2) is a quality side that will now play in its third straight sectional final, but No. 4-seeded West Windsor North (14-3-2) could just as easily have won this game as it lost it.
Yes, it was that close between two quality teams that both had their chances and were pretty much dead even in terms of territory and possession.
“We were in a lot of games like this, so this wasn’t new to us,’’ said North coach Trevor Warner. “We didn’t blow anybody out and we didn’t get beat bad. Fortunately, for us, throughout the course of the year (most of) these game went our way.’’
Hunterdon Central came in red hot after scoring a whopping 13 goals in its first two state tournament games, and it didn’t take long for the Red Devils to strike.
Less than four minutes into the game Central scored when Mark Costa was on the receiving end of a long pass down the right side of the artificial pitch. From there, Costa deftly dribbled the ball into the box and booted home a well-placed left-footed shot that gave Knight keeper Darragh Daly no chance.
Two minutes later, West Windsor North replied on a bullet by talented sophomore striker Jean-Anthony Portuguez. It appeared Portuguez didn’t have much of an angle with the ball deep and near the right corner of the box, but he struck it with such force his rightfooted blast was able to draw the Knights even.
With two goals in the first six minutes, a shootout seemed like it might be in the works. Instead, there was no much scoring until there were 15 minutes left in the second half.
Just like the first two goals of the game. Hunterdon Central’s game-winner was pure quality. In this case, a header into the upper left corner by Will Dranine following a perfect cross from the right wing by Thomas Schmidt
“They are a tough, rugged team,’’ said Warner. “They were very dangerous and organized on their counter attack with their wide players.”
Mainly behind the footwork of Portuguez down the left wing, West Windsor North also looked dangerous at times. Daly did a nice job as well with a couple of excellent saves in the second half for a West Winsdor North team that did win a division championship in the Colonial Valley Conference.
West Windsor North (14-3-2) 1 0 - 1 Hunterdon Central (14-3-2) 1 1 - 2 Goals: WWN-Portuguez HC-Costa, Drinane. Assists: WWN-Quezada. HCRatner, Schmidt. Shots: WWN-10, HC-12. Saves: WWN-Daly 5. HC-Padavano 5.