Just a minute into overtime, the Barnegat boys soccer season could have ended, if not for a goal post in the way. Seven minutes later, the Bengals’ career goals leader extended their phenomenal campaign.
“The big talk with Coach Peters before the game was that this most likely was our last game of the season on this field, so let’s make it memorable,” said senior Nate Scisco, who buried the game-winner with 1:54 left in overtime to lift Barnegat past Middle Township, 3-2, during the opening round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 tournament on Nov. 4. “If this is my last game on this field, it was a great way to end it.”
With the seventh-seeded Bengals and 10th-seeded Panthers equal through 80 minutes, they headed into the extra session with Barnegat reeling a bit from a high-pressured second half in which Middle erased a two-goal deficit.
“We always use a phrase like ‘It’s time to make plays,’ and these guys have a lot of trust in each other that anybody can make a play anywhere,” said head coach Kevin Peters. “It wasn’t so much that we had a letdown in the second half. They backed us into our half and ended up tying the game, and we were a little tired. But we moved Christian Sarmiento to midfield, mostly to help possess the ball better there, and moved Nate to the outside, mainly to create options out there when we had the ball in the midfield.”
Ultimately, the maneuvers worked, but not before getting a huge break, courtesy of the left goal post in their defensive half.
As Middle continued its pressure game that benefited them greatly during the second half, the Panthers managed to work the ball through the midfield and to the left side, where Carter Evans broke away from his Barnegat mark and got off an uncontested shot on goal. Bengals keeper Ethan Eannone froze and didn’t react to the ball until it was too late, but the ball struck the left post and bounced out in front of him before it was cleared away with 8:55 to go in OT.
“If that ball is a millimeter to the right, we’re not even talking about Nate getting the ball later in the overtime for a game-winner,” Peters said. “This is a funny game that way. Fortunately, our guys kept battling, and we were able to get a shot at winning later on.”
CHECK IT OUT: Barnegat’s Christian Sarmiento (23) celebrates the Bengals’ first goal of their 3-2 victory against Middle Township in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 2 first round.
With just over two minutes left, the Bengals worked the ball out of the backfield and into the midfield, where Nelson Argueta-Cedillos looked up and saw Scisco cutting to the middle. Argueta-Cedillos delivered a through-ball between a pair of Panthers and onto Scisco’s feet as he blazed into the box.
As opposing keeper Dante Duca charged out to cut the angle and slid onto the turf to deny a low strike, Scisco’s initial shot from about 8 yards caromed off Duca’s arms and then off Scisco’s face as he hopped over the keeper. With the ball bouncing away from him toward the end line along the far post, Scisco caught up with it and managed to get his foot to it, sending it high into the net just under the crossbar.
“I’m happy with not scoring the rest of the season if my teammates and I can go far into the tournament, but I had to make that one count,” Scisco said. “After the ball bounced off me, I think I just blacked out there. I’m surprised I got to that ball. It was such a weird angle, and with the spin on the ball, it was a tough shot, but I got my foot on it enough. I almost missed.”
During the first half, the Bengals (14-8) were on target twice. Nearing the midway point of the half, Scisco served a free kick into the box, and both Argueta-Cedillos and Max Yudman got a boot on the ball, but one was saved by Duca and the other bounced off a defender’s leg. However, the ball wasn’t cleared, and Sarmiento eventually buried it from 6 yards away to make it 1-0 with 20:51 left in the half.
Later in the half, Jake Yudman played a ball down the left side, where Scisco ran onto it, burst around the right fullback and cut into the box. As Scisco closed in on goal, he unleashed a sharp-angled shot from the right edge of the keeper’s box to just inside the far post for a 2-0 lead with 5:16 remaining.
About four minutes into the second half, Middle Township cut the deficit to a goal, then equalized with just under 22 minutes in regulation. The Panthers threatened to take the lead during the final 20 minutes, utilizing several corner and free kicks to get the ball into the box, but Eannone was solid, finishing with 16 saves.
Scisco’s overtime game-winner sent the Bengals to the sectional quarterfinals for just the second time in program history.
GET IT OUTSIDE: Barnegat midfielder Adam Sabine moves the ball through the midfield during the first half of the Bengals’ win over Middle Township on Nov. 4.
“Ending our careers on this field really couldn’t get any better, winning in overtime against a tough team,” said senior defender Matt Arbasetti. “We got the win and get to move on. We played with a lot of heart and got the job done. No matter what happens next, this was the best season our program’s had, and it was fun to be a part of it.”
Unfortunately, second-seeded Sterling ousted the Bengals, 3-1, on Nov. 7 to end their memorable season. Scisco scored the Bengals’ only goal in the second half, ending his career with 59 goals.
“This whole season was about making it memorable,” Scisco said. “It was awesome being here with my friends to make it such a great season.”
Southern’s Season Concludes in 2nd Round
After knocking off 13th-seeded Millville in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 tournament on Nov. 4, Southern Regional’s season came to an end in the quarterfinals, where the fourth-seeded Rams dropped a 4-0 decision to fifth-seeded Jackson on Nov. 9.
Against the Thunderbolts, the Rams (9-10-2) scored once in each half on goals by Michael King and Juan Victoria, with assists coming from Brayden Vile and Landon Nacarlo. The teams were tied at 1-1 heading into the second half. Goalkeeper Riley Hunt managed four saves.
Five days later, after their quarterfinals contest was postponed due to rain last week, the Jaguars opened up a 3-0 lead by halftime. Jackson scored during the 22nd, 27th and 34th minutes to take control, and added a goal during the 48th minute to seal the victory.
