MCT - Boys Quarterfinal Preview
#8 Roxbury @ #1 Delbarton (Sunday 1 p.m.):
I definitely – and mistakenly – omitted the Whippany Park-Roxbury game last week. I did not realize the mistake until Monday. My apologies to the Gaels and their followers. The Gaels are coming into this match-up off an impressive 4-0 victor over West Morris, but then fell to Morristown, 3-0. Ryan Hurdes led the way with two goals. Kyle Swaneveld and Shaun Silver also found the net in the victory. Delbarton is still undefeated and really has not been challenged for over a month.
Signature Wins Thus Far: Delbarton has two; a 3-0 victory over St. Benedict’s and a 2-1 victory over Prep power The Hun School. The 4-0 victory over West Morris is very impressive, although a 5-0 win over Livingston holds just as much water.
The Numbers: 1 - The Green Wave have only let in one goal since playing Hun on September 25th. 11 - Goals by Ryan Hurdles, Roxbury's leading scorer.
The Outlook: My two soccer experts insist that Delbarton has too much depth and balance to get beat before the finals. I have to argue that Roxbury has been doing what they need to do in order to win. Playing Thursday in the rain does not fair well for the Gaels, who may have gotten caught with their eyes on this game.
Signature Wins Thus Far: Delbarton has two; a 3-0 victory over St. Benedict’s and a 2-1 victory over Prep power The Hun School. The 4-0 victory over West Morris is very impressive, although a 5-0 win over Livingston holds just as much water.
The Numbers: 1 - The Green Wave have only let in one goal since playing Hun on September 25th. 11 - Goals by Ryan Hurdles, Roxbury's leading scorer.
The Outlook: My two soccer experts insist that Delbarton has too much depth and balance to get beat before the finals. I have to argue that Roxbury has been doing what they need to do in order to win. Playing Thursday in the rain does not fair well for the Gaels, who may have gotten caught with their eyes on this game.
#5 Par Hills @ #4 Morris Catholic (Sunday 12:00): Par Hills may have been looking to change their mascot to the Heat-miser. Mr. One-Hundred and one himself, David Przybylo is the county’s leading goal scorer. The Vikings come in at 9-2, and have a tough loss to Chatham. The Vikings fell to Chatham 5-1 in a Friday night game at Cougar Field. Parsippany Hills travels to Morris Hills on Friday. The Crusaders are simply undefeated since dropping their season opener to Pingry. The home turf looks to give Morris Catholic a nice advantage.
Signature Wins Thus Far: Parsippany Hills holds a few; a 4-1 victory over Morris Hills, a 5-3 battle with Mendham and an impressive win last Sunday over Randolph. Morris Catholic has a 2-1 victory over SCIL-power Sparta.
The Numbers: Crusader keeper Anthony Rogic has 5 shut outs to his credit. 1987 was the last, and only, time that the Vikings have won the IHC title (either division).
The Outlook: All three of us picked Morris Catholic here. The Vikings lost 5-1 the last time they played on turf. The Crusaders are very familiar to the bounces of their home field.
#14 Morristown @ #11 Morris Hills (Sunday 2:00):
Signature Wins Thus Far: Parsippany Hills holds a few; a 4-1 victory over Morris Hills, a 5-3 battle with Mendham and an impressive win last Sunday over Randolph. Morris Catholic has a 2-1 victory over SCIL-power Sparta.
The Numbers: Crusader keeper Anthony Rogic has 5 shut outs to his credit. 1987 was the last, and only, time that the Vikings have won the IHC title (either division).
The Outlook: All three of us picked Morris Catholic here. The Vikings lost 5-1 the last time they played on turf. The Crusaders are very familiar to the bounces of their home field.
#14 Morristown @ #11 Morris Hills (Sunday 2:00):
In last week’s preview, I had mentioned that the Colonials are opportunists. They took advantage of their chances against Chatham and will have a definite height advantage over the Scarlet Knights. Morris Hills has made quite an impressive run, most recently shutting out Mendham twice in the same week.
Signature Wins Thus Far: Morris Hills’ signature win came without their leading scorer and at the hands of their solid goalkeeper Rafael Diaz. Morristown’s could easily be their season opener, a 4-3 victory over Roxbury, but I need to go with their upset of Chatham last week.
The Numbers: 4 – The numbers of goals scored by Rodrigo Santiago in his first game back after a red card against Summit. 3 - the number of goals scored in today's win over Roxbury.
Signature Wins Thus Far: Morris Hills’ signature win came without their leading scorer and at the hands of their solid goalkeeper Rafael Diaz. Morristown’s could easily be their season opener, a 4-3 victory over Roxbury, but I need to go with their upset of Chatham last week.
The Numbers: 4 – The numbers of goals scored by Rodrigo Santiago in his first game back after a red card against Summit. 3 - the number of goals scored in today's win over Roxbury.The Outlook: Morris Hills was very fortunate to keep Mendham off the board Sunday. Diaz made three spectacular, superman-like saves in the shutout. Morristown has the size and the players to match up with the Knights and frustrate the Morris Hills attackers. Diaz will need be as strong as ever. Morristown is primed to pull the road upset, again.
#7 Montville @ #2 Kinnelon (Sunday 2:00): Did I mention that all four games feature teams from different conferences. This is the first meeting of the season for each opponent in each quarterfinal. Kinnelon is one of two undefeated left in Morris County. You can say all you want about their strength of schedule, but the 4-0 victory over Whippany Park was quite a statement coming into this game. Montville defeated Madison on Sunday, a game that really sent an internal message to the Mustangs.
Signature Wins Thus Far: I have to go with Montville’s 1-0 win over Madison last Sunday. The Mustangs avoided the upset and beat Madison twice in three days. Kinnelon held off a late charge in a 3-2 MCT win over Knolls.
The Numbers: 13 – The shots on net taken by the mustangs in a 1-0 victory over Madison last Sunday. 2 – Kinnelon’s Group this season, The Colts move up to Group 2 after a few years at Group 1. Also, the number of MCT victories in one season for the Colts. Can anyone remember the last time that he Colts won two games in the MCT? This may very well be the 1st time if they win.
The Outlook: Kinnelon in no panic nor did that have that “small school” look I have seen in teams when it comes MCT time. Montville played Delbarton tough, a 2-0 loss earlier, but may not have enough to knock off the Colts here.
Signature Wins Thus Far: I have to go with Montville’s 1-0 win over Madison last Sunday. The Mustangs avoided the upset and beat Madison twice in three days. Kinnelon held off a late charge in a 3-2 MCT win over Knolls.
The Numbers: 13 – The shots on net taken by the mustangs in a 1-0 victory over Madison last Sunday. 2 – Kinnelon’s Group this season, The Colts move up to Group 2 after a few years at Group 1. Also, the number of MCT victories in one season for the Colts. Can anyone remember the last time that he Colts won two games in the MCT? This may very well be the 1st time if they win.
The Outlook: Kinnelon in no panic nor did that have that “small school” look I have seen in teams when it comes MCT time. Montville played Delbarton tough, a 2-0 loss earlier, but may not have enough to knock off the Colts here.
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