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MONTCLAIR GAUCHOS
U-14 Boys
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Gauchos Come of Age, Capture State Cup
November 7, 2007
Montclair Times
The Montclair United Soccer Club's Gauchos had earned a reputation throughout New Jersey as a resilient, tenacious, hard-working team since their inception five years ago. And now the soccer community is calling them something else.
Champions.
The Gauchos completed their incredible run to the Boys Under-12 State Cup title with a dramatic 2-1 victory against top-ranked NJSA 04 Celtic last Sunday in Bordentown. The come-from-behind victory over the defending champs moves the Gauchos, who were quarterfinalists last season, into the United States Regional Finals next summer in Maine.
"I still can't believe it," stated Gauchos trainer Kieran Patrick. I'm happy for the boys. They've earned this.
The winning goal came eight minutes into the second half when defender Sam Eisen electrified the crowd with a 35-yard rocket into the upper corner of the net. With Alex Patel and Chris Mortimer pressuring the Celtic defense into making a poor clearance, Eisen pounced on the loose ball and one-timed a shot over the goalie's head.
Celtic had taken a 1-0 lead 10 minutes in as the Gauchos found themselves trailing in the tournament for the first time in five State Cup games. But the momentum swung back in Montclair?s favor just two minutes before halftime when Miles Hackett, the team?s all-time leading scorer, beat three defenders down the right side and powered a low shot past the goalie.
Miles has scored a lot of great goals for us, Patrick stated. But that was his greatest goal ever.
On Saturday, it was Hackett?s goal three minutes into injury time that lifted the Gauchos to a heart-stopping 2-1 victory against PASCO, the same team that defeated Montclair six months earlier during the Clash of the Cleats Tournament in Brookdale Park. But on this afternoon the Gauchos prevailed when midfielder Nick Feraco?s perfectly weighted pass behind the PASCO defense to Joe Rodriquez created the scoring chance. Rodriquez and his renowned left foot sent a bullet at the goal that dipped at the last moment, causing the PASCO goaltender to give up the rebound. Hackett, who never quit on the play, poked the ball into the net, sending the Gauchos? supporters into delirium.
"It was great but we still needed one more win," Hackett stated.
Less than 24 hours later, Patrick's boys were back on the field against the premiere team in the region. Last spring, NJSA 04 defeated the Gauchos, 5-1, but Montclair was missing several key players, including center midfielders Justin Gonsalves and Ryan Fennelly. The duo controlled the pace of the game this time around, and along with Matthew Lemash, Matthew Gordon, Clark Baratta and Nico Saldivar, the Gauchos more than held their own against Celtic's talented midfielders.
The reason you play for the Gauchos is to be in a game like this, Fennelly stated. "We gave it everything we had."
In the final 10 minutes Patrick substituted wisely, shuttling fresh players in and out of the lineup to keep pressure on Celtic?s defense. Not only did Carter Spyrka and Zachary Jennings cause headaches for the opposing defense, but their ability to hold the ball and create scoring chances killed valuable seconds off the clock in the closing minutes.
And then there was the Gaucho defense standing its ground against two of New Jersey's highest-scoring teams in back-to-back games. Anchored by co-captains Liam Isola and Max Rosen, and bolstered by the return of Michael Difilippo, who missed the first two months of the season because of illness, the Gauchos formed an impenetrable blue wall in front of their goal.
After we scored it was the longest 22 minutes of my life, Isola stated. "But we played very smart at the end and Brian Harnett was awesome."
Harnett, the Gauchos goalkeeper who needs a step ladder to reach the crossbar, never played bigger than he did in the last two games. He devoured every high ball and didn?t give up a single rebound over the tournament?s final two games. Harnett?s semifinal save on a breakaway in the opening minutes was clearly his best moment.
The weekend, of course, represented the Gauchos finest hour, the culmination of a journey that began five years ago when the team was formed. Back then, the players were typical 7- and 8-year-olds, running around the field in a scrum with juice box and orange slice stains on their uniforms. Most of the original members were on the field Sunday as the Gauchos demonstrated that they had matured into an efficient, tactical and focused club. Their uniforms were still dirty, however. Only this time the stains were from a raucous post-game celebration of apple cider.
Victory never tasted sweeter.
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RATING THE 2007-08 GAUCHOS
Noted Italian soccer writer Rolo Tomasi, who has covered everyone from Paolo Rossi to Paolo Maldini, rates the Gauchos following their State Cup championship. (ratings are one to four stars with four being the highest.)
BRIAN HARNETT, goalie-- Magnificent. He is smaller than macaroni and yet he was as tall as the Tower of Pisa. Is being scouted by Celtic of Scotland.****
LIAM ISOLA, defender -- The less he listens to his father the better he plays. Great left foot. Better last name. He was born to play for AC Milan.****
MILES HACKETT, forward -- Has everything you'd want in a soccer player; great speed, better hair and a right foot to die for. I only wish he were Italian. FC Barcelona has advised him to take Spanish classes.****
SAM EISEN, forward, defender -- Wow. The last thing I heard was that his shot went through the net and is now approaching the Florida coast. Chelsea is looking to sign him before Jan. 1.****
MAX ROSEN, defender -- Toughness and leadership is incredible. He is smaller than Harnett which means he is the size of cavatelli. Manchester City is interested.****
ZACHARY JENNINGS, midfield -- Looks like a model, plays like pit bull. He's too good looking not to be Italian. AS Roma wants him. ****
JOE RODRIGUEZ, midfield --The most lethal left foot I've seen. He is both Messi and messy. Real Madrid has already called.****
ALEX PATEL, midfield -- Classy player who is oozing skills. Turned down Arsenal. Waiting for Man United to call. Sir Alex meet son Alex.****
MICHAEL DIFILIPPO, defender -- Italians make the best...defenders. Rumor is that he was sick. He didn't play like it. Inter Milan has upped their offer.****
CHRIS MORTIMER, forward -- He is the size of two Max Rosens. That makes him a manicotti. Great touch. Better person. Newcastle wants him next to Michael Owen.****
RYAN FENNELLY, forward --He is Totti without the attitude. His game is like a Pizza with everything on it. He's that good. Said to be joining Isola at AC Milan.****
JUSTIN GONSALVES, midfielder -- Smarter than DaVinci, creative like Michelangelo. An absolute rock in the middle. Bound for Real Madrid.****
CARTER SPYRKA, forward -- Has a motor that never stops running. He's a Fiat with better hair. Juventes, you have found your man.****
MATTHEW LEMASH, midfield -- So strong he even scares me. Doesn't realize how good he is. But the pros know. Dynamo Kiev has already made an offer.****
CLARK BARATTA, midfield -- Speed and skills make him a dangerous weapon. He was born to play in England. Maybe that's why Blackburn signed him as a five-year-old.****
NICO SALDIVAR, forward -- Sneaky, very sneaky. The ball appears to be glued to his feet. Reminds me of Raul from Madrid. But he will be Nico of Sporting Lisbon.****
NICK FERACO, defender -- Hooray for another paisan. He is a young Nesta. Strong and confident. Destined for Inter Milan.****
MATTHEW GORDON, defender -- A Rio Ferdinand clone. Smooth as gelato with a great understanding of the game. Manchester United has attended his last 20 matches.****
KIERAN PATRICK, trainer -- The less he listens to Liam's father the better. That he won with a group like this is a Disney movie without the corny lines. Finally getting the recognition he deserves. Potential suitors are lining up. Red Bulls of New York have already called but his dream job is to coach in Italy and marry an Italian. But for the right price he would sign on to coach Manchester United. Sir Alex, watch your back.****
GAUCHOS PARENTS, cheerleaders -- The men I can do without. (no stars) But the mothers - Mama mia!****
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