First time since 2009 for Blue Tide, who defeated Kearny in semifinals
The Harrison High School boys’ soccer team celebrates after defeating Memorial, 2-0, to capture the Hudson County Tournament championship, the school’s first since the initial HCT in 2009.
By Jim Hague
Observer Sports Writer
Jose Neto hasn’t had the easiest of high school soccer careers. The Harrison High School senior had to endure knee surgery after a torn anterior cruciate ligament and the extensive rehabilitation that comes with the operation. Neto also had to deal with his share of ankle injuries over the years.
“The rehab was tough, but I kept going,” Neto said. “I knew that anything could happen.”
As it turned out, Neto returned to form for his fourth and final season with the Blue Tide.
“He never really had a full season to show us what he could do,” said veteran Harrison head coach Mike Rusek. “We’ve been real fortunate this year that he hasn’t missed a game. He was determined to have a great senior year and really stepped up his play.”
Neto is definitely saving his best for last.
With standout defender and team leading scorer Modou Sowe on the sidelines with a knee injury, Neto took it upon himself to lead the Blue Tide in the Hudson County Tournament championship game Sunday against Memorial at Caven Point Cochrane Field in Jersey City.
Neto scored two first half goals and that was enough to propel the Blue Tide to a 2-0 victory and to capture the Hudson County championship for the first time since the initial tourney in 2009.
What made the Blue Tide’s championship more rewarding is that they also knocked off local archrival Kearny, 1-0, in the semifinals last Wednesday.
Sowe had a spectacular defensive game against Kearny.
“He must have cleared away 25 balls with headers,” Rusek said. “He was so solid.”
However, doctors determined that the ball hitting Sowe’s head so many times caused a slight concussion.
“He said he was feeling dizzy a little after the game, so doctors said that he’s out for a week,” Rusek said. “I was a little nervous playing without him.”
There was also the emotional letdown effect after having such a huge win against the arch nemesis.
“I wondered whether we got up too high for the semifinal,” Rusek said. “After all, it was an emotional game, a rivalry game. I started to think that maybe we played our best against Kearny and didn’t have anything left for the championship game.”
Rusek said that there was a sense of emptiness to go that long without a county title.
“Sure, we had been disappointed,” said Rusek, whose team lost in the second round last year to Union City and in the semifinals to St. Peter’s Prep in 2011. “But I think last year was a surprise group. No one expected us to go far. This year, we had a good group of juniors and seniors coming back. After we beat Kearny, I knew we had a good shot.”
Neto recalled both goals.
“The first one came off a corner kick by Kevin (Villanueva) and I was able to head it in,” Neto said. “The second one, Kevin hit a through ball to me. I got it, shot it and it hit the post and went in. It was crazy. I was lucky enough to score both goals.”
Neto also worried that there would be an emotional letdown after beating the Kardinals.
“Beating Kearny was such a big accomplishment for us,” Neto said. “It’s our biggest rival. The coaches told us that we had to treat this one as a bigger game than Kearny, because this was for the championship. Winning this was one of my dreams. I love being around my teammates so much that I wanted this for them.
Added Neto, “It’s overwhelming for me to score two goals in the county championship game. It’s a really big accomplishment. For me to be the one to come through is amazing.”
“I’m so happy for Jose,” Rusek said. “He really stepped up for us and led us. Kevin now has 18 assists this season. You never hear of anyone getting 20 assists in a season, but Kevin’s right there.”
Jose Neto, who scored the game’s lone goals, dribbles past two Memorial defenders. Neto carried the Blue Tide to a 2-0 victory, ending a drought in the Hudson County Tournament.
Nick Araujo stepped up as well. The junior goalkeeper turned aside nine shots to record his 12th shutout of the season in 15 games.
“He’s coming into his own,” Rusek said. “We knew Nick was going to be good for us. We didn’t expect this good. He’s surpassed our expectations.”
The Blue Tide continues to exceed everyone’s ideas, because they are now 14-0-1 on the season.
“This team has definitely surpassed our expectations as well,” Rusek said. “We have everything we could have asked for and more. It’s pretty remarkable. I hope it carries into November for us. We just beat the No. 1 seed (Kearny) and No. 2 seed (Memorial) in Group IV and we’re Group II. I think we’ll be in pretty good shape for the state tournament.”
As long as Neto keeps finding the net and as long as Sowe gets healthy, the Blue Tide should keep rolling along.
