Richet Barchue (left) and Matt Griffith (right) scored Hamilton’s first two goals while Adam Edders tallied the final two in Hamilton West’s 4-2 win over Ewing in Tuesday’s MCT play-in game. the Hornets will take on top-seeded Hopewell, who they played close in the regular season, in a first-round game Thursday. Photo by Rich Fisher.
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Oct. 17: The Hamilton West boys’ soccer team has just two wins this season, both against the same opponent. But that is not preventing the Hornets from thinking big about their chances in the Mercer County Tournament.
Coming off two heart-breaking, one-goal losses to township rivals Steinert and Nottingham – the latter coming Monday night in a fiercely intense game – it remained to be seen of the Hornets would have much left at Ewing in today’s MCT play-in game.
It remains no more.
After letting two leads slip away, the Hornets got two goals from Adam Edders in the final 22 minutes for a 4-2 victory and a Thursday trip to top-seeded Hopewell Valley for a first-round game.
“I think we can definitely make a run in this tournament,” Edders said. “We held Hopewell to 2-0 when we played them last time. Maybe we can pull something out.”
“It was a pretty even game last time,” coach Chris “C Mo” Morales said. “We had our opportunities, they did as well. We came out a little flat but we were able to bounce back and keep it competitive after they scored their first two. I feel good going into it, to be honest. I feel if we play like we did against Steinert, Nottingham and today against Ewing, I think there’s a good shot.”
Indeed, the Hornets (2-12) put forth a spirited effort in all three games, and were able to beat Ewing for the second time this season thanks to some resiliency.
Monday night at Veterans Park, Hamilton fell behind 2-0 to Nottingham before getting within a goal and then having several opportunities robbed by goalie Pat Luckie. It was draining.
Morales was wondering how his group would react.
“Less than 24 hours we have to come back here,” he said. “I went in with essentially the same starting lineup we had against Nottingham. I asked them ‘Are you guys ready to play?’ they said yeah. They were banged up but we came out and scored the first goal and the effort was there for everybody. We’re not in the state tournament so we’re in a do or die situation and they rose to the occasion.”
Keens Louissaint picked the right time to get his first point of the season, when he sent a ball wide to Richet Barchue, who sent one into the back of the net from the left wing. The final 28:15 of the half would remain scoreless, as Hornet goalie Giuseppe Scordato (12 saves) and Ewing keeper Kameron Clark both made some big saves.
Starting at the 4:41 mark of the second half, four goals were produced in 14 minutes, as each team traded scores.
Ewing’s Chris Krah tied it with an unassisted goal. With 31:10 left, Barchue sent a through ball to Silvio Aparicio, whose cross skipped past Ricardo Morales on to the foot of Matthew Griffith, who scored straight-away from 20 yards out. In less than five minutes, Manny Herron made a nice individual move to tie it for Ewing.
Hamilton got a break with 21:08 left when Ewing was whistled for a direct foul in the box, awarding the Hornets a penalty kick. Edders converted for what proved the be the game-winner.
“Adam’s the guy on the PKs,” Morales said. “We finally capitalized on the opportunities. That was the problem against Nottingham and Steinert. It’s kind of been the story all year. A brand new season started today, so hopefully all the mistakes have been corrected.”
The game was still in doubt, but Hamilton got some very welcome insurance when Aparicio set up a right wing shot for Edders, who scored with 9:27 remaining.
“I took it right to him,” Edders said. “I knew he was gonna dive to the right so I just put it near post. I felt once there was two-goal lead, I looked at the clock and there was like, 10 minutes left. I thought we had it in the bag, we were playing well.”
It was the eighth goal of the year for Edders, while Barchue has six. The two have 14 of Hamilton’s 18 goals.
“They’re a dangerous tandem,” Morales said. “They have a large majority of our points and they’re really coming into their own here at the end of the season. We made some adjustments in the lineup and with the formation we’re playing and I think they’re responding well to that.”
Just as Hamilton seems to be responding well to the tail end of the season. Morales feels the Hornets “are the best 2-12 team I’ve ever seen.”
“I think this win gives them the confidence we need to go in and knock off Hopewell,” said Morales.
He said it with a straight face.
Hamilton is, indeed, thinking big.
