Tales From The Playoffs

The Toms River South Boys Soccer team had its end-of-season banquet last Thursday but there was a slight problem…it wasn’t the end of the season.
On an evening that is usually filled with awards and honors all of those in attendance were really more interested in what would happen the following day when the Indians would play Lenape for the South Jersey Group 4 championship. South, in customary fashion would score a late goal in regulation and then prevail in overtime to claim the sectional title. I say in customary fashion because since tournament play began late last month this team has shown an uncanny ability to score dramatic goals late and I mean very late to win games. Last night the cardiac kids of soccer found themselves on the other end but responded anyway and are now a win away from the state Group 4 title…something unthinkable just a couple of weeks ago.

Memorial Field in Neptune was the site of a Group 4 semifinal between the Indians and their cross town rivals Toms River North. The Mariners had won both regular-season meetings on their way to claiming the Class A South title and entered last night’s game with a 16-2-1 record. North took a 1-0 lead but Dan Crashewsky’s goal and two assists gave South a 3-2 advantage and it stayed that way for much of the second half. However the Mariners used late-game lightning to send the game into overtime when Tanner Sica scored with just 22 seconds left in regulation. How would the Indians respond to the situation of their opponent carrying momentum into overtime? Their fans would not have to wait long to find out because Crashewsky, who has performed like an All-Star player in the post-season
scored less then two minutes into overtime to send the maroon and white into a delirious state. Crash, Steven Petrosino, John Nogiewich & Sean Casey now have one game left this season and that is Friday night when they face Clifton in the Group 4 Championship game at The College of New Jersey. Don’t think everyone at Toms River South is happy with this fact…as a matter of fact they’ll be some disappointed young ladies. You see while the Indians are playing this “ultimate game” they’ll be getting ready for the Homecoming Dance. They’ll have to excuse their soccer playing dates for missing pictures….hopefully they can make it in time for the last dance.