WEST ORANGE, NJ – The third-seeded and defending champion West Orange High School boys’ varsity soccer team defeated Clifton and Morristown to advance to the championship game of the state North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 tournament.
The Mountaineers, under head coach Doug Nevins, improved to a 15-2-2 record and will visit top-seeded Kearny in the championship game on Nov. 10. Kearny has a 17-3-1 record.
Senior Ricardo Carias scored two goals to lead WOHS to a 4-1 home win over sixth-seeded Clifton in the quarterfinals on Nov. 3. Junior Kenneth Vaquiz and senior Kevin Zeligson each had a goal; and senior Andrew DiPalma, junior Brent Llewellyn, senior Dillon Reitberger, and Wes Rideau-Winds each had an assist. Junior Paul Schuler made three saves for the Mountaineers.
Senior Andrei Rosu scored the game-winning goal in double overtime to lift the Mountaineers to a 2-1 win over second-seeded Morristown in the semifinals on Monday, Nov. 7, in Morristown. Vaquiz had the assist on Rosu’s goal.
With WOHS trailing 1-0 at halftime, senior Russell Hoffer scored the tying goal off an assist from senior Diego Pedrido. Shuler made six saves. Morristown fell to 15-8-1.