Boys Varsity Soccer Defeats Rahway for 10th Win of the Season

In their second tough contest in as many days -- both coincidentally on natural grass fields -- the Gov. Livingston boys' varsity soccer team was able to prevail against a very game Rahway team, who was coming in on a 7-game winning streak and kept this one close thanks to the goalkeeping work of Anthony Beam.

On this occasion the final was 2-1, a very different affair from their first match on September 9th that GL won 6-0.

In the second minute of this second meeting, Rahway took the lead on a looping header from the middle of the penalty box that came off a free kick from 40+ yds out.  Jon Robbins could only watch the ball go into the far corner of the net to his right.

But as they have done before in this campaign, the Highlanders worked their way back from a deficit to first tie it at 1 on another Jeramey Robbins goal - this one sneaking in off the near post after a feed from James Lynch.

GL began asserting itself in the second half and put Rahway keeper Anthony Beam's acrobatic skills on full display for all to see.  He made what could only be described as four spectacular saves to deny GL again and again.  Tipping over the top on one, diving to his right and left, and denying GL yet again on a shot that looked destined for the back of the net.  He gave Rahway that "fighter's chance" that every coach and team wishes for -- to still be in a game at the end.

GL had taken the lead on a second half goal from Louie Marke who took yet another well-placed feed from Lynch at the far post -- from a chance fashioned by a very strong, low pass across the goal mouth by Anthony Oliveira. 

And with at least five free kicks in their half in the last three-plus minutes of added time, the GL team was made to work and its fans made to sweat it out until the final whistle blew.

And in one of those 'small world' coincidences, two of the spectators who just happen to strike up a conversation on the sideline were former coaches of many of the boys out on the field.  Jeff Bamundo had coached the Berkeley Heights Bulldogs and Mike Petraroia had handled the Rahway Steam when the boys were new to soccer and playing "small sided" travel.  Both were able to reminisce and enjoy the fruits of their labors as they watched their players competing at this much higher level of play. 

To check out the UCT story, click here.

http://patch.com/A-mFpm

Check out the full bracket here.