By Phil Murphy
Content Editor, DigitalSports.com
**Check below the game story for individual video players from both games. All clips are posted — finally.**
At the Northern Region boys’ soccer semifinals, both games were decided on finished loose balls in the box off corner kicks.
In the first game, Concorde District Player of the Year Seth Goldman took 21 seconds to have an impact, getting the de facto assist on the would-be, game-winning goal for Robinson over Westfield just one play after entering. And in the latter half of Wednesday’s doubleheader, Stone Bridge senior Ronnie Shaban had played significantly more minutes, but his game-winner was no less shocking — or sudden — against host Yorktown.
Accordingly, both the Rams and Bulldogs advanced to the Northern Region championship game with 1-0 victories.
“This field is something we haven’t played on this year,” said Stone Bridge Coach Randy May, whose team has been on the right side of three consecutive 1-0 games en route to Friday’s title game. “The width of the field took some time to adjust [to] … Give Yorktown all kinds of kudos. I thought it was a well-played game. In terms of both teams gaining possession, having opportunities, having little whoops. We had a couple in the first half, they had one or two.
“This is the third time in my high-school career that I’ve played Yorktown in key games that matter. And there’s always that one little break that somehow we manage to come through with and capitalize on.”
Sidelined with a sprained ligament in his left knee sustained during Robinson’s opening-round, penalty-kick win over Wakefield, Goldman jogged onto the field for the Rams’ second of three corner kicks in the first half. With the in-swinging kick in mid-flight, Goldman rose up among the crowd at the far side of the six-yard box to head the ball back toward the near post.
A shot attempt by sophomore standout Alex “Koko” Makcumbi was stuffed, but set up an open-net opportunity for captain Ted Faris four yards from the goal line. Faris placed the game’s lone goal in the bottom left corner of the frame without error and Goldman, who will play next season for American University, was subbed out of the game, not returning until the 75th minute.
“Koko had a shot and it bounced right off,” said Faris, who Ram Coach Jac Cicala praised after the game for taking on added responsibility in Goldman’s absence. “I had about three feet around me, kind of a radius. I managed to hit it in. It hit off the keeper, but it still went in. Goals go in.”
Added Goldman: “Thankfully, corner kicks have been one of my strong points this year. I knew if I was able to get a head on it, hopefully, back near post, somebody would score. Thankfully, Teddy did.
“I came back out and I was really happy on the sidelines. I don’t know how many times I was tugging at my coach’s shoulder to put me in. I definitely respect his decision to keep me out. I have another career going in college.”
While Robinson was forced to withstand the powerful Westfield attack without relent for the final two-thirds of the game, both Stone Bridge and Yorktown spent the first 70 minutes in a stalemate.
Before the 73rd-minute Bulldog corner, there had been a combined eight shots-on-goal. But the ball played in took an awkward deflection, popping between Shaban and defender Caleb Robertson about 10 yards from the goal. Shaban took the initiative, volleying an attempt at the field of Patriot defenders that stood between he and the goal line.
After a brief moment’s hesitation, Shaban recognized he had scored and darted toward the corner flag, his arms outstretched and a league of teammates in pursuit.
“In retrospect, it is probably the ugliest goal we’ve scored all season,” said Shaban, reenacting his emotions with his hands. “The ball drops right in front of me, my eyes light up, the ball is there, the goal is right in front of me and I tuck it home between all the defenders.”
Added May: “I feel for [Yorktown] Coach [David] Wood and his boys, they fought a valiant fight. But I’m so proud of my boys.”
Junior goalkeeper Matt Miscione preserved his third clean sheet – and third 1-0 win – of the region tournament by recklessly sliding through a threatening Yorktown ball in the 79th minute that ultimately trickled over the end line for a goal kick.
“It’s been pretty intense,” Miscione said. “I’m sitting there on my line thinking, ‘Oh gosh, if I mess up once, we’re going to overtime and it’s all my fault.’ Like on the last play of the game, it was kind of weird, I just jumped out there like a – I don’t even way to say.”
Added Shaban: “I always thought you have to be a little crazy to play goalie.”
When the dust settled had – on the dustless FieldTurf – at Yorktown, a championship game was set between two of the most decorated coaches in Northern Region history.
There will be a combined seven state championships on the sidelines on Friday: Three from May’s days at West Springfield and four from Cicala, earned in the 1980’s at Lake Braddock.
“Jac Cicala and I go all the way back to the 80s,” said May, whose Bulldogs defeated the Rams, 3-2, at Stone Bridge on March 28. “Our families go on vacation together. Jac is like a brother to me. We’re always talking and communicating. When I coached at Cornell, he was at George Mason and we played each other.
“Right now, I just want to savor the moment. I’ll think about Robinson starting tomorrow – or tonight, when I get home, I’ll start thinking about Robinson. But right now, I’m just very, very relieved and elated for our boys.”
Email: pmurphy@digitalsports.com
Game One
Robinson 1, Westfield 0 (est. time to watch: 13:51)
Game Two
Stone Bridge 1, Yorktown 0 (est. time to watch: 11:00)
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