Christian Brothers Academy controlled the play during the Shore Conference Tournament boys’ soccer championship game on Oct. 24.
The Colts created chance after chance near the Ocean Township High School goal.
They forced Ocean Township goalkeeper Max Winters to make 10 saves. But CBA just could not put a ball past Winters.
Then, late in the second overtime, Ocean Township’s Luke Yates lined up for a throw in. He launched the ball high in the air, toward the CBA net. Leo Montesinos raced in behind the CBA defenders and headed the ball into the net for the winning goal.
As the Colts slumped to the field at Point Pleasant Borough High School, the Spartans mobbed each other and sprinted over to their screaming fans.
With the 1-0 defeat, CBA fell one victory short of the Shore Conference Tournament title.
There was not much more the Colts could have done, besides score.
“They got a flick on and found the back of the net. We played really well. It’s not about the loss,” said CBA coach Tom Mulligan. “I’m really proud of our effort. We just didn’t come away with the result. Soccer can be a cruel game.”
The defeat ended CBA’s five-game winning streak, which included three Shore Conference Tournament victories.
CBA outscored opponents, 13-3, during its winning streak.
The Colts, despite the championship loss, are playing their best soccer at the right time.
And getting to the conference championship was an accomplishment in itself.
“The tournament was fabulous,” Mulligan said. “We’ve played games like this all year.”
“Our defense played great tonight. I have to give it to them,” said CBA junior Luke Pascarella. “The midfield played great, too. Our forwards we just have to finish our opportunities. These set pieces, we have to finish them early.”
The Colts’ season is, of course, not over.
CBA was named the No. 1 seed in the NJSIAA South Jersey, Non-Public A sectional tournament on Oct. 23.
Mulligan’s club has an opening round bye in the 11-team single elimination tournament.
On Nov. 1, CBA will be the host in Lincroft for a state quarterfinal sectional game. In that game, CBA will meet the survivor of the opening-round match between eighth-seeded Red Bank Catholic High School and ninth-seeded Saint John Vianney High School.
So, CBA needs three more victories to take home the state sectional title. To win a state sectional title and then go for the Non-Public A state crown, the Colts must put more shots on goal and finish more chances.
CBA blasted a lot of shots high and wide on Oct. 24.
“Those were opportunities in close that we should have just put away. We just have to get closer to the goal and just finish,” Pascarella said. “We made it here. We had high hopes of winning it (the Shore Conference). We just needed to finish our opportunities. So if we do, in the state championship we can go far. We can win it.”
“I feel really confident. I love my team. We stack up well against anybody. We’ll take on all challengers and we look forward to the next tournament,” Mulligan added. “We had plenty of opportunities to score. We just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities. And Ocean had that final opportunity and they took advantage of it.”
CBA will need to take advantage of those opportunities next week.
“Let’s go get a South Jersey title,” Mulligan said to his players after the game.
