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SPORTS

Boys Soccer: Union County Tournament final preview

Lauren Knego
@laurenknego

WHAT: Union County Boys Soccer Tournament final

WHEN/WHERE: Friday at 8 p.m. at Kean University

WHO: Top-seeded Scotch Plains-Fanwood (17-2) vs. No. 2 Westfield (14-3-1)

GIRLS SOCCER: UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT FINAL PREVIEW

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Scotch Plains-Fanwood, which earned a bye into the quarterfinals, defeated No. 9 Plainfield 5-1 and No. 4 Cranford 4-0. Westfield, which also received a bye into the quarterfinals, beat No. 10 Dayton 1-0 and No. 3 Elizabeth in penalty kicks.

SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD REPORT: The Raiders are currently on a six-game win streak and have outscored opponents 20-2 with four shutouts in that span. Tight defense and an attacking offense has been the name of the game for a Scotch Plains-Fanwood team that has 11 shutouts and has only allowed a total of nine goals. John Murphy leads the team with 15 goals and seven assists, with Ryan Peterson right behind with 12 goals and two assists. Patrick Ellman (five goals, eight assists), Tommy DeVizio (eight goals, nine assists) and Robert Devine-Gelling (three goals, four assists) have also been bright spots on the Raiders' offense this season. Scotch Plains-Fanwood has only two losses this season, a 1-0 loss to Westfield on Oct. 1 and a 2-0 setback against Elizabeth on Oct. 6.

READ: COURIER NEWS BOYS SOCCER TOP 10

WESTFIELD REPORT: The Blue Devils and Scotch Plains-Fanwood are no strangers to each other, as the two teams have been heated rivals for years. The pair split their regular season meetings, with Westfield winning 1-0 on Oct. 1 and the Raiders winning 2-1 on Sept. 10. Westfield is currently on an 11-game winning streak, having outscored opponents 31-2 in that span with nine shutouts. Owen Ripperger leads the team with 12 goals and four assists, while Loukas Carayannopoulos (two goals, seven assists), Owek Prybylski (five goals, five assists), Pierre Titti (five goals, two assists) and Contreras Aguirre (three goals, four assists) help to balance out a potent offense.

PREDICTION: If Westfield can keep pressure on Scotch Plains-Fanwood to the point of exasperation, the Blue Devils can pull this one out. Don't count out overtime either. Westfield 1, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 0.

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego