James Fitzmaurice scored twice in the second half for Ramapo, which overcame a halftime deficit to knock off Mahwah, 5-1, in the quarterfinals of the Bergen County Tournament.
FRANKLIN LAKES – The 5-1 final score suggested a comfortable path for second-seeded Ramapo in its quarterfinal matchup against upstart Mahwah in the Jerry Lewis Varsity Tournament, but there were some nervy moments. In fact, there were nearly 40 minutes worth of them.
With its first counterattack of the game and with its first touch in a dangerous position, Mahwah served its notice of intent. A ball played into the middle right around the top of the 18 popped up for Alejando Parapi, who cracked a left-footed half-volley into the left side of the net.
Just 3:23 into the game and the 10th-seeded Thunderbirds had a 1-0 lead and, while they soaked up a lot of pressure over the remainder of the first half, they carried it into the intermission and beyond.
Come on, was the defending champion playing on its own home field really worried about a one-goal halftime deficit?
"Yes. Of course," said Ramapo head coach Evan Baumgarten, whose team was behind on the scoreboard for just the second time at any point this season. "I could say no, but as a coach you are always thinking. I have confidence [in my team] and I have belief in them, but it is high school soccer and anything can happen."
Lost in the halftime deficit and the thoughts of an upset turning the tournament on its head, was Ramapo's heavy advantage in possession and the multitude of shots and opportunities for others that it was piling up against Mahwah keeper Diego Bravo, who was up to the multitude of challenges.
To Mahwah's credit, it did not resort to a Christmas tree-shaped defense as it was still dangerous on the counter while trying to play balls to sophomore Jabari Brown, the target man up top, but the T-Birds had to cede some ground because of the way Ramapo possesses, moves and shares the ball.
Alejandro Parapi gave Mahwah the lead just 3:23 into the game.
Shortly after halftime, the Green Raiders found the equalizer. Less than three minutes after the intermission, a cross was directed away by the Mahwah defense, but it dropped right into the path of James Fitzmaurice at the corner of the 18 and the senior midfielder calmly deposited the equalizer low and inside the left post.
"I think we just have to stay focused. There are some games where you might think that this is a lower opponent, but Mahwah brought it. They are a great team," said Fitzmaurice. "We needed to stay focused, stay connected as a group and we need our communication to be high. I think the best part of this team is how much we depend on each other, how much we trust each other. We set that trust and we push through."
The Raiders pushed through the short-lived tie as senior Julian Cuttita went across the face of goal from the left post to put them up for good in the 51st minute.
Cuttitta is one of 17 seniors on the Ramapo roster and it is a group that has been forged in the fire. Halftime was not set aside for an impromptu coaching seminar or finger pointing. Baumgarten built an ethos of self-sufficiency and the podium in such situations is open for whoever wants to step up. Halftime on Saturday belonged to senior Zach Zarzar.
"It is great to see such great leaders on the team like Zach Zarzar. We were down, not used to it and to have a senior guy step up and take leadership and encourage all of us. I think that really got us going," said Cuttita. "Clearly the result shows that way."
Caden O'Connell (right) put Ramapo up 3-1 with a pretty back-heel..
Ramapo shares the responsibility in leadership evenly and also shares the ball. All 10 outfield players are used in the build up and anyone of them is just as likely to be the one providing the service as they are to be on the end of it. The Raiders' third goal was its prettiest as Jordan Hunt, who relentless on the ball pressure at the tip of the spear, created a turnover and then ran up the left wing from where he sent in a low cross for Caden O'Connell, who made a technical finish look nonchalant.
O'Connell almost casually back-heeled the service inside the second post. He knew it as soon as he clipped it and barely followed its path into the goal before making a hard left for a subdued celebration in the corner. That made it 3-1 with 23:34 to play, and the Raiders fourth goal was the result of a solid Bravo save. He pushed a Fitzmaurice's volley around his right post with a firm wrist, but Cuttita showed up on the weak side off the ensuing corner kick and buried it with 21:44 to go. Fitzmaurice capped the scoring in the 61st minute with a rip from the top of the box.
Ramapo is now off to the semifinals where it will play No. 3 seed Tenafly, a 2-1 winner over Wallington, in the semifinals, while No. 5 Ridgewood and top-seeded Bergen Catholic will face off in the other Final 4 match in the double header to be played on Saturday night at Waldwick High School.
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