Robbinsville chases Steinert’s Tristan Spadola as he leaps over slide tackle. Photo by Amanda “The Homeowner” Ruch.
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Oct. 13: It was heart-breaking to say the least.
But if Steinert’s boys’ soccer team took one positive from today’s 2-1 home loss to Robbinsville, it’s that the Spartans have a real shot at winning their Mercer County Tournament opener.
The 12th-seeded Spartans will visit 5th-seeded Robbinsville next Thursday in a first-round MCT game. The difference between the two teams today was a nice goal by former Hamilton Township resident George Fotiou with 31 seconds left in the match.
“We definitely know we can play with them now,” Steinert coach Anthony Tessein said. “We knew we could play with them going into the game. We know we can play with anybody, it’s just occasionally we have these hiccups. Unfortunately it seems every time we have a hiccup, we have to pay for it.”
Sam Cohen works the pass against Robbinsville. Photo by Amanda “The Homeowner” Ruch.
Steinert (4-8-1) had a two-game winning streak snapped against a senior-laden Robbinsville squad that is now 11-3-1. The shots were fairly even as the Ravens led in that category 10-9, but more Robbinsville shots went on net as Steinert keeper Todd Jewell made six saves as opposed to four for Walt Romanow.
The first half was fairly lackluster before Steinert took the lead 6:40 into the second. Tristan Spadola stole a ball on the right flank and then hit a hard shot to the long side that Romanow tipped but couldn’t stop from going in.
It was the team-leading ninth goal for Spadola to go along with a team-high four assists.
“In the last two or three weeks he’s been incredibly consistent,” Tessein said. “His work rate has been high. We’re leaning on him to make big plays and he’s producing.
“He’s got a crew of players around him that work really well off of him. Max DiPierro is a workhorse, and he makes it possible for Tristan to make some of the runs he’s able to. Our midfield is just really coming together now and understanding what we’re trying to do. All of that is coming together at the same time that Tristan is finishing very consistently.”
Moments before Spadola scored, DiPierro was robbed of a goal when he had a point blank shot thwarted on an incredible lunging save by Romanow.
Matt Hanaway leaps for the head-ball against Robbinsville. Photo by Amanda “The Homeowner” Ruch.
Just after Spadola scored, Jewell made a big diving save of his own to rob Anthony Rossi. The Ravens began to gain life and, after Steinert was called for a handball in the box, Johnny Morales converted the penalty kick.
Fotiou eventually ended it with his goal, getting back at his old buddies as he lived in Hamilton through fourth grade.
Tessein feels Steinert’s play has improved in recent weeks but there are still inconsistencies.
“We’re trending in the right direction, but our youth still shows in games like this,” the first-year coach said. “We hope to be where (the Ravens) are. That (last goal) right there shows the difference. They finished out the game in a big spot, they were able to score a goal and we weren’t able to.”
