On a warm Autumn afternoon Nov. 4, nearly 200 fans packed the huge soccer field surrounded on three sides by trees just 10 yards out of bounds as the host Delran High School boys’ soccer team got ready to play Arthur Johnson High in the first round of the Central Jersey Group 2 playoffs.
There were loud cheers for both teams after a good play, as Delran fans rooted for the Bears and several busloads of fans from the school in Clark, NJ rooted for the Crusaders.
The action was fast, furious and physical as players from both teams battled hard for loose balls and set up good scoring chances. The referees were busy blowing the whistle for midfield penalties as players collided and jumped over each other trying to get control of the soccer ball.
After several close scoring chances denied by great defense from the fullbacks, there was a great scuffle in front of the Delran goal as the ball bounced around inside the 18 yard line after a great save by goalie Kawan Duarte Pereira.
As the teams scrambled for the rebound Johnson’s Matty Ortega kicked a scorching shot into the right corner of the goal despite a diving effort by Pereira to give his team a 1-0 lead with 21:13 left in the first half.
Great play by the Delran fullbacks, including Ryan Birks, Sam Ferroni, Joey Campo and Josh Ekedo, kept Johnson at bay the rest of the half, while the Crusaders goalie Patrick Lewis kept Delran off the board with several tough saves on balls lobbed into the goalmouth by the Bears.
Entering the second half, the action continued to be end to end as players made amazing moves and crisp passes. Delran had several scoring chances but were stifled by the Crusaders defense and Lewis, who finished the game with five saves.
Johnson also had a lot of chances and cashed in on two of them as Matt Pereira and Greg Galante scored and the Crusaders shutout the Bears for a 3-0 victory.
Coached by Tommy Orr, Delran finished its season with an 8-11-1 record. Players on this year’s team included Mason Campo, Sam Ferroni, Aidan Kalifah, Mat Flor, Vinnie Reis, Nick Souza, Pedro Dos Santos, Jack Fulton, Maykon De Jesus Silvestre, Joey Campo, Erick Souza, John Aucay Yanez, Luke Trombley, Lucas Alves, Dan Finn, Troy Simpliciano, Pedro De Oliveira Ambrosio, Jack Boyle, Josh Ekedo, Gabe Mendes, Matthew Almeida, Jace Mitana, Brandon Lowther, William Gillespie, Eduardo Becker Silva, Ryan Birks and Kawan Duarte Pereira.
The Delran soccer team played hard all game, leaving all their effort on the field, but came up a bit short.
Albert J. Countryman Jr./The Sun
Troy Simpliciano jumps over a Johnson player while Gabe Mendes races down the sideline looking for a pass.
