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    • Elliot Morris goal, strong defensive effort propels Steinert boys soccer into semifinals – Trentonian
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    Elliot Morris goal, strong defensive effort propels Steinert boys soccer into semifinals – Trentonian

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    Steinert’s Elliot Morris, right, celebrates with goalkeeper Dennis Chaykovskyy, left, after beating Red Bank Regional during a Central Group III boys soccer quarterfinal game Friday afternoon at Klockner Road in Hamilton Twp. (Kyle Franko/ Trentonian Photography)

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    HAMILTON – The Steinert boys soccer team has come out of the slump in a big way.

    Not a scoring slump, but a defensive slump.

    After allowing seven goals in the last three games, Steinert shut down a dangerous Red Bank Regional offense for a 1-0 victory in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III quarterfinal game on Friday.

    Senior center back Elliot Morris scored the only goal of the game in the sixth minute of the second half, and the No. 3-seeded Spartans (15-4-3) held on for a game-winning home semifinal against No. 7 seed Burlington Township. The Falcons advanced with a 2-1 win over No. 2 seed Northern Burlington.

    “Our defense hasn’t played that well the last few games,” said coach Anthony Tessein, whose team has allowed just 10 goals in its first 18 games. “It’s a senior-led defense and they really put in the work the last two days. They were humbled that they didn’t play great, they wanted to get better, they tried to fix that in practice. We had a good idea of ​​what Red Bank would throw at us and it worked.”

    The No. 6-seeded Bucs (13-8-1) came in after scoring 51 goals with two big threats in Alex Salvo (19 goals, 6 assists) and Trey Cummings (14 goals, 9 decisive passes). They enjoy having the ball and getting good opportunities.

    Thus, the plan was for the forwards to press and allow the halfbacks and backs to pack it in so the Bucs couldn’t provide anything in the offensive third. Steinert did an outstanding job of denying Salvo and Cummings, who had few touches where they could be dangerous.

    “It started with the forwards,” Tessein said. “They did exactly what we worked for. We were passing guys in and out in front, they were fried. We really contained them and that was the plan.”

    Morris, Ryan Checkowski and Jake Reilly had their usual strong games in the backfield, but it was all 10 outfielders that kept Red Bank shut down.

    “We give a lot of props to our middle, they played outstanding defense,” Morris said. “Our strikers handled themselves all day. They did the five minute laps they needed. Everyone on the bench wanted to play and wanted to win.

    “Yesterday we worked a lot on defensive positioning, forward positioning and midfield positioning. We locked it in practice and just capitalized on the field.”

    Tessein praised unsung heroes like Bayron Godinez, Zach Barton and Derek Monahan.

    “Bayron does what you ask, he works hard enough,” the coach said. “So many guys on this team just follow the plan, they do it. They don’t get their name in the paper a lot because we don’t get many assists or goals. But Zach is a blocking center defensive end, and so is Derek Monahan. They had a great game today.”

    They had to because a low-scoring game favored Steinert, where a wild shootout would favor Red Bank.

    Shots were few and far between throughout the game, with both goaltenders combining for three saves.

    Steinert’s Mathias Perez had the best scoring opportunity of the first half, but his low shot was thwarted by a thrilling save by goalkeeper Eric Minetti.

    After little offense in the first 45 minutes, Steinert got what he needed with 34:12 remaining. Tyler Tafrow picked up a free kick in the box and after a scramble, the ball rolled to Morris on the left side and he tapped it into an open goal.

    “It bounced over another player’s head,” Morris said. “I was in the right place at the right time and capitalized on it.

    “I had a similar chance a few games ago and I took it with my right foot. I missed and it was pretty bad. Today I knew I had to finish with the left foot. I put it down and scored.”

    Steinert hung in there as Red Bank possessed, but he couldn’t get the ball to Salvo or Cummings where they could go to work. The Spartans earned their first shutout in five games and 10th overall.

    “One of our core principles is to execute,” Tessein said. “I did that today. I did what had to be done. We are proud of them.”

    The result is a third game of the tournament at home against a 10-9-1 Falcons team that defeated Lawrence, 1-0, in the first round.

    “Honestly, I’m not too surprised,” Tessein said. “I knew how the power points shook, I felt we deserved to be the two. It’s wonderful. I’d rather be at home, not have to travel. It’s a school day. We walk around here and do our thing and hopefully take care of business.”

    Morris added: “It’s exciting. We like to play on our grass, on our field. We play our best here.”

    Red Bank (13-8-1) 0 0 — 0

    Steinert (15-4-3) 0 1 — 0

    G: Morris. Shots: R-2. S-6. Saves: R-Minetti 2. S-Chaykovskyy 1.

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