Soccer: Mounties lose tight game to Seton Hall in OT, 1-0

by Andrew Garda

garda@montclairlocal.news

West Orange—In a battle of two top high school boys soccer teams, Montclair High School pushed Seton Hall Prep into overtime, but fell just short, 1-0.

Mounties keeper Rowan O'Brien played a brilliant game, making six saves, including a game-rescuing denial on a Seton Hall penalty kick in the MHS box. O'Brien and Pirate goalie Anthony Petruzziello both made multiple saves to keep their teams in the game and ultimately send the match into overtime.

However, in the fifth minute of first overtime, Seton Hall's Aidan Dunphy brought the ball into the Mountie end, cutting to the left side of the net before sending a cross to the opposite side where Jon Ned was waiting.

O'Brien dove across the net but couldn't make it in time as the ball came off Ned's foot quickly and found the back of the net.

The game was a very physical one, with five yellow cards issued throughout the course of the game and one scuffle involving several players of both teams in the second half. This was a hard-fought battle between two very good teams, and the rough and tumble style of play resulted in several fast breaks and near-misses for both teams.

Which is why, while the loss is a disappointment, the fact that the Mounties pushed Seton Hall—one of the best teams in the state of New Jersey—into overtime, nearly winning the game multiple times, is a reason to be excited for what the team is capable of.

Head coach Toure Weaver said after the game that he feels that this wasn't even one of their better games, and the team still hasn't reached it's potential.

"We're still in the first third of the season," he said. "I still say we haven't played our best."

The Mounties get a chance to recover momentum when they travel to Bloomfield on Monday, September 25.

For a complete breakdown of the game, including more postgame quotes and the result of Monday's game, check out next Thursday's edition of the Montclair Local.