Win Gives Boys Soccer Top Seed in County Tournament

The Cougars have never won the county tournament, but they are playing like a team that could be the first.

  

Nick Pace had two goals and an assist and Pat Kaskew had a goal and two assists to
spark the victory at Memorial Field. Rumson-Fair Haven dropped to 5-2.

Cranford scored goals from Connor DeMars and two by Pace to take a 3-0 intermission lead. Pat Hartnett scored his 13th goal of the season on a great assist by Pace to make it 4-0 and Kaskew followed with a booming shot that beat keeper Jake O'Donnell.

  
"I just tried to hit it low and hard and put it in the corner,'' Kaskew said.

  
Cranford outshot Rumson 16-2.

  
"I love playing with this team, everybody works hard, that's the key to our
success,'' he said.

  
Midfielders Ray El-Khoury and DeMars were outstanding in the midfield, pushing it
forward to the Cougar attack. The Cougars looked very strong.

  
"I thought right up the middle we were terrific this afternoon,'' said head coach
Mike Curci. ""I'm so proud of these kids because they continue to work hard, continue to work at their game. We do an awful lot of keep-away drills. We do a lot of it. They want to get better and it transfers to the field. They have done a great job. We played a good team today. I have a lot of respect for Rumson. We just came out and probably played our best soccer of the season.''

  
The Cougars have worked on creating plays, the coach said.

  
"I thought our first goal -- we had three guys converging on the ball in the middle
and Demars stepped in front and chipped it over the goalie's head, that's what we have been working hard at,'' Curci said. "It's paying off.''

  
Senior keeper Scott Boyer recorded his sixth shutout of the season. The Cougars have allowed just three goals.

  
"I think Scott's the best keeper in the county,'' Curci said.

  
The Cougars will open the county tournament a week from Saturday against an opponent to be determined.