Photos by Jerry Simon. Columbia HS (white uniforms) vs. Bloomfield, Sept. 27, at Bloomfield’s Watsessing Park. Columbia won, 4-1.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ – The Columbia High School varsity boys’ soccer team rallied to beat state-ranked Millburn, 2-1, in overtime on Oct. 11 at CHS Ritzer Field.
Millburn opened the scoring on a rebound goal midway through the first half.
Down 1-0 at halftime, Columbia answered 30 seconds into the second half. Avery Coreschi scored on a one-timer off a low cross from the corner by Joe Dente.
Into the first overtime, Columbia endured a barrage of corners kicks and long throws into the box. The Cougars counter-attacked when Steven Kattouff sent a looping serve into the box, where Dente collected and shot on goal. Dente’s shot was saved and rebounded, from right to left, only to be smashed home by an oncoming Alex Lauder.
Millburn, ranked No. 14 in the state by The Star-Ledger/NJ.com, fell to 7-4-1.
Columbia, under head coach Josh Russotto, improved to 8-5. Russotto also is a Millburn HS alum.
The Cougars received the ninth seed in the 27-team field of the Essex County Tournament and will visit No. 8 seed West Essex in the first round on Thursday, Oct. 19, at 4 p.m. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Oct. 21.
Millburn is the No. 3 seed in the ECT. Seton Hall Prep is the No. 1 seed and Montclair is the No. 2 seed.
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