Montclair Kimberley boys soccer heads to rematch with Knights for state championship

Montclair Kimberley senior Julian Coviello headed in a corner to give the Cougars a 2-1 victory over Rutgers Prep in Montclair on Saturday.

The victory gives second-seeded Montclair Kimberley (12-7-1) another shot at top-seeded Gill St. Bernard's in the Non-Public B North final on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at Gill St. Bernard's, time to be determined.

It was only recently that the Cougars lost 3-0 at Gill St. Bernard's in the Prep B tournament title game on Oct. 26. Montclair Kimberley was without several key players in the Prep B title match.

The Knights scored all three of their goals in the first half.

In the win over third-seeded Rutgers Prep, Montclair Kimberley got on the board first where a free kick from senior Nick Baum from 40 yards that was hoped to be a cross to sophomore Joey Nigro. Rutgers Prep keeper Ryan Parisi was distracted by Nigro flying toward him as Baum's kick flew over Parisi to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead with 13 minutes off the clock in the first half.

With Montclair Kimberley up one heading into the second half, the Cougars defense let up their guard as Rutgers Prep Demi Osinubi was left open and headed in a perfect pass to tie the game at one in the first three minutes of the second half.

But the Cougars finally got the game-winner with 4:30 remaining in the contest from Coviello who headed in a Nigro corner.

For Montclair Kimberley it was sweet justice with Coviello’s goal after a what appeared to be a goal by a header by Cougars’ senior Jack Roselund earlier in the second half was disallowed.