State Semi-Final Game Wrap-up…a Seton Parent Perspective

Wow! What a game! This was a classic battle of two giants replete with drama, tragedy, and heroics. It was a back and forth affair for most of the game though if I had to guess, Seton maintained possession 55% to 60% of the game. Steward had one very dangerous attacker, their number 11, who based on previous footage and certainly as shown in this game was the key to their offense. Peter Reyes did a phenomenal job all game keeping this player under wraps. From my point of view, except for the heroics of our Goalie, Peter would have walked away with Man of the Match.

We had various chances during the game, our closest came off of two headers by Andrew Nguyen, and another off a key pass from Andrew Gomez to Nguyen in the 6-yard box. There were additional missed opps off various crosses through the box during the game.

With about 4 minutes left in the game, Seton gets a ball into the box area thanks to an Andrew Angsten pass. The ball bobbles back and forth between multiple players from both sides, but eventually Bobby Vanderwoude gets a foot on it and Seton jumps to the lead. Then stoppage time came and seemed to take forever. At a certain point Steward got a corner and it went through, took a weird bounce and hit Angsten’s arm. While unintentional, it was in the box and the referee called a red card and therefore a penalty kick. Steward’s number 11 converted. Score is 1-1 and Seton is now down a man. Seton holds until overtime which is called a Golden goal overtime…first goal wins the game. Each overtime is 5 minutes…but the first overtime went to 6 minutes. Seton held strong. Second overtime started. Players were visibly tired and cramping set in. But Seton held firm. It was obvious from the outset we were trying to hold on and get to Penalty Kicks as that would level the playing field with regard to players but also provide us a potential advantage based on the height of our goalkeeper, Dominic.

Steward has one final shot on goal - a curveball across the face of the goal – it is going in the far left. But Dominic saves the day. Not even Superman can fly the way he did – stretched fully horizontally and grabbing the ball in his two hands. The most amazing save I have seen in a very, very long time. The crowd goes nuts.

Penalty Kick Time!

Penalty kicks always favor the kicker. But there is a psychological component to it as well as you will see…

Dominic was in the goal to start. Steward’s best player, Number 11, steps up confidently and kicks. Dominic dives right and BLOCKS it – Seton crowd goes wild!!!!! But the ref says he stepped off his line. For non-soccer folks out there…a goalie cannot step forward off their line during a penalty kick. From my perspective that did not happen. He moved side to side but that is allowed – so is jumping up and down. He never moved forward off that line - again from my perspective. But the ref saw something different.

So…number 11 steps forward again and shoots left. Dominic incredibly makes another unbelievable save. He dives left, stretches and blocks. That player and the entire stadium on Steward’s side were shell shocked. But the ref called another “off-the-line”. NO WAY!!!!

A third time he kicks and makes it.

Justin Fioramonti steps up first for Seton and buries it.

The second player comes up for Steward. Immediately I notice two things. Dominic is laser-focused. He has just blocked two of three of their best player’s shots. His confidence is high. The Steward player looked tentative. He had just witnessed the same thing. Psychology at play. The second player shoots and Dominic BLOCKS!!!!! The ref says nothing. Everyone from Seton is jumping up and down.

Seton calmly buries the rest of their shots. GAME OVER!