Tristan Spadola drills a penalty kick. Photo by Amanda “The Homeowner” Ruch
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
Oct. 23: From 12th seed to semifinalists.
It’s amazing what a little time can do for a team.
But hey, if the Cubbies can do it than why not the Spartans.
After struggling to get it together during the regular season, something has clicked in the Steinert boys’ soccer team, which will meet top-seeded Pennington in a Mercer County Tournament semifinal, 7:30 p.m., at Notre Dame High School.
“We went through some growing pains after graduating 18 seniors last season and going through a coaching change,” first-year coach Anthony Tessein said. “Our inexperience really showed in the middle part of the season, but the team finally understands what it takes to win varsity soccer games.”
Entering the counties with a 4-8-1 record, the 12th-seeded Spartans were pretty much an afterthought to most observers.
The regular season ended with a scoreless tie against Hamilton, which didn’t seem like much, but was a harbinger of things to come. It was the first of three straight shutouts authored by goalie Todd Jewell, meaning two goals meant two MCT wins for the Spartans. .
On Oct. 20, Steinert turned the tables on 5th-seeded Robbinsville with a 1-0 overtime victory against a team that beat the Spartans 2-1 a week earlier. Justin Brunow converted a pass from Max DiPierro to win it. Two days later, Tristan Spadola’s penalty kick gave Steinert another 1-0 win over 4th-seeded Trenton in a controversial match that had both sides growling.
”In both instances we knew we could play with them after losing close matches in the regular season,” Tessein said. “The second time around it came down to effort and belief. We were able to put together a solid 80 minutes of nearly mistake-free soccer in both games. A month ago we weren’t capable of playing in games like these.”
Aside from Jewell’s inspired play, which featured 17 saves in two games, Tessein praised the play off Matt Hanaway in the back.
“He has been rock solid on defense,” the coach said. “He is a calming influence on the team who quietly takes care of business every game.
“I also think the team as a whole needs to be recognized. Every single player has bought in and worked to raise the level of play over the last two weeks. Without their belief and optimism nothing would be possible.”
They are going to need a lot of belief on Monday night against a talented Pennington side that is 11-0-3 but just squeaked past West Windsor-Plainsboro South in the quarterfinals. The Red Raiders have one of the most talented scorers in the county in Ibrahima Diop, who has 23 goals despite being considered more of a facilitator by coach Chad Bridges.
“We need to play a smart and focused game from minute one to 80,” Tessein said. “They are a team that can exploit the most minor mistakes, so we will need to be at the top of our game. I believe in this team and they believe in themselves. At the end of the day that’s all that matters.”
And if Steinert has a few more miracles left in it, the end of the day may not come until