South Plainfield, South Brunswick named GMC Tournament co-champions

WOODBRIDGE - At the end of the day on Saturday, nobody was thrilled.

The Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Soccer Tournament final between top-seeded South Brunswick and sixth-seeded South Plainfield ended in a 1-1 tie after two overtime periods at Woodbridge High School.

As opposed to one team celebrating and the other sulking, both sides were visibly disappointed by the outcome.

“It’s not a complete positive and it’s not a complete negative,” South Brunswick coach Chris Hayston said. “How are you supposed to feel? You don’t feel devastated because you didn’t lose and you don’t feel thrilled because you didn’t win.”

Tempers flared early in the game when multiple players on each side began shoving and pushing each other five minutes into the game. What ensued was a very chippy, highly contested match.

After a physical and scoreless first half, senior midfielder Richard Marcovecchio gave South Plainfield a 1-0 lead in the second half on a beautiful long distance goal.

“We were really confident,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Perfilio said. “When we scored that goal, it gave us some life.”

The Tiger goal seemed to ignite something within the Vikings, and it started with senior Jermaine Small. The senior midfielder headed a ball just over the crossbar, then took another shot that missed being a goal by about six inches.

After a missed hand ball call, South Plainfield was charged with another hand ball in the box. Senior Patrick Grudnik converted on the penalty kick, tying the score at one.

“What sparked the team was giving up the goal,” Hayston said. “We had that desperation that we need to get it back.”

The Tigers had a chance to take the lead with seven minutes left in the game, but Deshai Smith collided with Viking goalkeeper Arvind Swaminathan. The senior goalie left the game with a shoulder injury, and backup Jake Foeldes finished the game and made a game saving save in double overtime.

“Jake came in and played very well,” Hayston said. “Sports is an insensitive world. It’s the next man up.”

In the end, both teams left with a bit of a sour taste in their mouths. Both coaches, though, agreed that a game ending in penalty kicks would have been much worse.

“Nobody wants to be co-champs, but I don’t want it ending in PKs,” Perfilio said. “In the end, it’s really a crapshoot.”

Both coaches suggested some version of the game continuing until a goal is scored as a solution. Their solutions were rational, but perhaps too idealistic.

“I voted against PKs because it’s an awful way to end a game,” Hayston said. “I think you should keep playing unil there’s a winner. If that’s offered, I’ll vote for it, but it never will.”

Staff Writer Daniel LoGiudice: dlogiudice@gannettnj.com