Braves work overtime to secure a CJ IV title
Quintano notches game-winner in second OT
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Manalapan's Josh Goldberg beats a Hunterdon Central player to the ball during Friday's sectional final in Manalapan.

In the blink of an eye, George Quintano can turn a soccer match around.In the way to winning the Shore Conference Tournament and advancing to the Central Jersey Group IV title game, there was one thing that Manalapan could count on: at some point in a match, the junior forward is going to make a big play. His speed and ball skills are simply too explosive to be shut down for an entire match.

Friday at the Manalapan Recreation Center, Hunterdon Central (12-6-2) did about as good a job as anyone has on Quintano. As a result, the Red Devils found themselves in sudden-death overtime against the Braves (19-3-1) with the teams tied 2-2.

In the first 10-minute overtime, the Red Devils had the best of play but couldn't cash in on their chances, thanks to the aggressive play of Brave goalie Jake Grinkevich and the alert Brave defense behind him, led by Brandon Cohen and Jeff Weitz.

As the game moved into the second overtime, the Red Devils, who had overcome a 2-1 deficit in the second half, were a confident team. Then, in the blink of an eye, Quintano knocked in the game-winning goal.

Dan DeLorenzo, who had scored Manalapan's second goal, chipped a through-ball to Quintano on the run. The rest was pure Quintano.

"I was able to run past my kid and one-timed it into the goal," said Quintano. "They did a pretty good job on me throughout the game. I was just looking to get that one shot."

When it came, as he has throughout the playoffs, Quintano delivered, and Manalapan had the 3-2 win and the school's second Central Jersey state sectional title, and first for head coach John Natoli.

"I feel I can make a difference," said Quintano in an understatement.

The win helped the Braves take some of the sting out of last year's 3-2 overtime loss at North Brunswick.

"Our goal all year has been to get back where we were last year and win it," said DeLorenzo. "We stayed together as a family."

DeLorenzo's unassisted goal from the sideline gave Manalapan a 2-1 lead just 14:40 into the match.

Brandon Russo stunned everyone by scoring on a direct kick just 30 seconds into the match. Hunterdon Central got that goal back 13:30 into the match on Nick Chiarella's goal. But one minute later, DeLorenzo scored off a deflection, and it was 2-1 Manalapan.

"I tried a cross and it deflected into the goal," said DeLorenzo.

With three goals in the first 14:40, it looked liked Friday's CJ IV final was going to turn into a slugfest, but then both defenses began to pick it up. The only score for the remainder of regulation was by the Red Devils' Caleb Worrell off a superb feed by Ian McIntrye 20:05 into the second half.

Defense limited the scoring chances in the final 20 minutes, and the match went into overtime with a shoot-out a distinct possibility. But Quintano put an end to that.

Thanks to a string of upsets that included Manalapan's 2-0 toppling of top-seeded Howell, the Braves, seeded No. 8, got to host the state sectional final. Hunterdon Central was seeded 11.

"It's fantastic to play it [final] at home," said Natoli. "The kids delivered when they had to. I told them this is something they'll always remember."

Natoli added that the Central Jersey championship was for everyone who has been a part of the school's soccer program, helping it to reach the level where it is a Central Jersey champion.

Manalapan, which is 8-0 in tournament play, had the satisfaction of eliminating North Brunswick in the semifinals on Nov. 7. The Braves returned to the scene of last year's final's loss and beat North Brunswick 2-0. Jay Berger and Erik Illisije scored the Manalapan goals, assisted by Quintano on each, in the second half to secure the win and a measure of revenge.

The 2006 season, however, is far from over for the Braves. They moved on to the NJSIAA State Group IV semifinals, last night in Neptune, site of their SCT championship. They played South Jersey Group IV winner Eastern.

"We want to keep it going from here," said DeLorenzo.

The winner of last night's game will play for the State Group IV title on Friday at a site to be determined.