The Park Ridge Owls boys soccer team was looking to play some quality out-of-conference opponents this season to help them prepare for the state tournament.
As a result they took on a very good Dumont team on the road Sept. 23. Park Ridge scored an early goal and hung on the rest of the game for a thrilling 1-0 victory.
“We knew we were going to be in a fight today,” said Owls coach Bob Meidanis.
Goal waved off
Dumont brought the fight to Park Ridge in the first minute of the game. Craig Cerrato had a quick scoring chance that went wide in the first 30 seconds. Just a moment later Cerrato scored a goal on a deflection, but it was immediately waved off due to goalkeeper interference. Zack Ramirez and Kevin McKeary also helped put some pressure on the Owls, including a shot by Ramirez that went just wide of the goal in the ninth minute.
The Owls got on the board in the 11th minute. Midfielder Sebastian Rivera lined up to take a corner kick. He lofted the ball nice and high toward the back post and forward Andrew Kirshteyn rose up and headed the ball passed Huskies keeper Pat Daly.
“He is a great finisher in the air,” Rivera said of Kirshteyn.
Teammates for years
Meidanis and the two players talked about how well they work together. They have been teammates since they were little kids and it shows. Rivera takes most of the free and corner kicks and he is usually looking for Kirshteyn.
“They have developed a nice rapport with each other,” Meidanis said. “Thankfully they connected today.”
After allowing that first goal, Daly might have been the star of the game. He continued to make save after save, keeping his team alive. In the first half he made four saves to keep the score at 1-0.
By: KRIS DEBLASIO
Photo: ROY CARATOZZOLO
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