The Cranford High School boys soccer team was expected to be good this year. But the
Cougars have gone one better. So far they're perfect.
Tuesday afternoon, the Cougars dispatched Rahway High School 3-0, improving to 5-0. Cranford got two goals from senior Pat Hartnett -- his seventh and eighth of the season -- and another by junior Connor Demars off a header from a throw in by Ryan Lopes that opened the scoring four minutes into the game at Memorial Field.
It was a complete victory that returned nine starters from a team that won its second straight Mountain Valley Conference title last year. The Cougars played stifling defense, allowing Rahway a mere three shots on goal. The Cougars had 17.
"Our defense is the same as we had last year and we're getting better and better
with each game,'' said Cranford coach Mike Curci. "They do play smart. We have Josh (Barrera), Walano (Eric) and Lopes. They are doing an outstanding job and are in sync right now. They make very few mistakes. They know what their role is -- to protect our goal."
The defense turned the ball over to the midfield which kept the front line pressing.
"It's a team effort,'' said Hartnett, who just missed a third goal late in the
second half. "They have to to work the ball up to me. My job is finishing.''
Hartnett said he wouldn't miss the kind of chance he had in the second period when he was one-on-one with the goalie, but shot the ball right at him.
"I have to do better with those kind of opportunities, especially when it's a closer
game than this,'' said Hartnett, whose second goal was assisted by Walano.
Lopes lofted a throw in to Demars who flicked the ball.
"I just ran across flicked it and it went in,'' Demars said.
The Cougars have allowed just two goals. They've beaten Morristown Beard (3-1),
Timothy Christian (9-0), Governor Livingston (3-1) and Westfield (1-0) before the win over Rahway.
The season continues with a game at Roselle Catholic Thursday at 4 p.m. before a home game at Walnut Avenue School Friday at 4 p.m.
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