Boys soccer: 2024 Group 2 semifinals preview

GROUP 2 SEMIFINALS PREVIEW

Tuesday, Nov. 19 | BRACKET

Glen Rock (16-3-2) at Harrison (18-5-2), 5

State finals berths:

• Glen Rock: 1968; 1991; 2018

• Harrison: 1951; 1953; 1961; 1963-64; 1966; 1968; 1970-72; 1974-76; 1991-92; 2001-04; 2006-08; 2012; 2014
  

This marks the first meeting between these two since 2011, when Glen Rock defeated Harrison, 1-0, in the regular season.

Both teams pulled off relative upsets to get to this point, with Harrison, the third seed in North 2, Group 2, beating second-seeded Madison, 2-1, in the section semifinals and then defending their home turf against eighth-seeded Hackettstown, 1-0, in the sectional final. Harrison has given up just two goals so far in the state tournament, with a 6-1 first round win over 14th-seeded Mendham, then a 5-0 shutout over sixth-seeded Lyndhurst, followed by the 2-1 win over Madison and the 1-0 shutout over Hackettstown. Harrison has now gone unbeaten in its last six games, going 5-0-1 in that span.

Glen Rock, meanwhile, won North 1, Group 2 for its first section title since 2018 by dispatching No. 11 ranked and top-seeded Ramsey, 2-1, thanks in part to the first career goal from freshman Victor Kubasek, who gave Glen Rock some much needed insurance and put them up 2-0. Prior to that, Glen Rock downed Manchester Regional, 8-2, in the first round and Mahwah, 3-0, in the quarterfinals before going on the road and shutting out second-seeded West Essex, 2-0, in the semifinals. Coach Matt Beverin’s Glen Rock group has won seven games in a row en route to the state semifinals, with four shutouts in that span.

Both of these teams have potent offenses — along with Group 1 semifinalists Waldwick, these two teams pace the NJIC in goals scored with 79, while Glen Rock has conceded 18 goals in 21 games (.85 goals against per game) and Harrison has conceded 28 goals in 25 games (1.12 goals against per game).

On offense, Glen Rock is led by Harrison Wortley (24 goals, eight assists), Alex Kim (15 goals, 17 assists) and Drew Carlin (six goals, 17 assists), who combined have 48 out of Glen Rock’s 79 goals this season. Andrew Eisenberg has made a career-high 75 saves with 11 shutouts this year for the Panthers. Among the statement results this year for Glen Rock include wins over Bergenfield, a state-ranked Garfield team and Pompton Lakes for a share of the NJIC Colonial division, while they tied Waldwick and Ramsey. The Panthers have made the state finals three times as a program, most recently in 2018, but have never captured a state title.

Harrison, on the other hand, is among the winningest and most historic programs in New Jersey soccer history with 15 state titles. And while Blue Tide have made 24 state finals appearances, they haven’t made a state final since 2014, but certainly seem to have the pieces to do it this year. Senior forward Frank Barrera (20 goals, five assists) paces the offense, while Pedro Barreto Reis (10 goals, three assists) also serves as another top finisher for coach Mike Rusek Jr. Midfielder Yusufu Jaite (five goals, 10 assists), is a top playmaker for the Blue Tide and is a difference maker all over the field. Christian Barrios (six goals, 10 assists) is another key driver of the offense in the middle, while goalie Francisco Apolo has made 123 saves in 23 games and been a part of six shutouts.

The pick: Harrison Article Link