Dayton Boys Soccer Falls Short in States

For the second straight season the Dayton boys soccer team saw its season come to a close in the sectional semifinal round against Glen Ridge.

Dayton, which played 100 minutes of scoreless soccer with Glen Ridge, bowed, 4-3, in the penalty kick shootout on Wednesday in the semis of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament in Glen Ridge.

A year ago, Glen Ridge prevailed 1-0 in the sectional semifinal round in Springfield.

Reese Peterson, Tyler Citrin and Andrew Reina each connected on their penalty kicks but Glen Ridge made four of five attempts to advance to the sectional final for the second straight year.

“It was a tough one,” Dayton coach Felix Fabiano said of the loss. “We had a couple of chances in regulation and overtime. One shot hit the post and their goalie made a couple of nice saves on other opportunities.

“It was a really well-placed game but it just wasn’t our day.”

The result officially goes into the books as a tie as deemed by the state. Dayton’s only three losses this season were at Metuchen on Sept. 26, at Scotch Plains-Fanwood on Oct. 29 in the quarterfinal round of the Union County Tournament and at Gov. Livingston on Oct. 24. They were all by a 2-0 score.

Scotch Plains and Gov. Livingston are the top two teams in Union County and are each ranked in The Star-Ledger Top 20.

“I’m very proud of the way this team played this year,” said Fabiano, who now owns a career mark of 170-115-28 in 17 years at the Springfield school. “We had a great (Union County Conference Valley Division) record (10-0-1) and will probably move up to the Mountain (division) next year.”

Dayton advanced to the sectional semis with a convincing 4-1 victory over New Providence on Monday, Nov. 7. Eytan Boclin had two goals and an assist and Reina and Peterson each added a goal as Brandon Moss turned in an eight-save performance.

Moss, a senior, posted his 14th shutout of the year against Glen Ridge with a six-save effort.

The offensive tandem of seniors Boclin and Michael Disko was exceptional this fall for the Bulldogs and formed the top 1-2 scoring duo in the county.

Boclin finished with 22 goals and 14 assists while Disko led the team—and county—in scoring with 24 goals and 13 assists.

“They were both incredible for us this year,” said Fabiano.

Fabiano was also very happy with the efforts of sophomores Reina, Citrin and Peterson.

“They all came along really well,” said Fabiano. “Andrew is almost to the level where his brother Brian was at when he graduated last year.” 

Moss, who blanked one opponent in his freshman year, seven as a sophomore and nine last year, ends his career with 31 shutouts. He had nine saves in Dayton’s 0-0 tie with Palmyra in the Group 1 state final in 2009 as the Bulldogs shared the state championship.

“Brandon was just great for us,” said Fabiano. “Nothing went past him.”

In addition to Disko and Boclin, Dayton was led by Citrin (three goals, five assists), Zack Haliczer (three, 13), Andrew Homlish (two, two), Asmar Johnson (four, three), Peterson (three, four), Reina (four, three), Yosef Salomon (three, two), Mario Rocha (one, three), Jason Barreira (one goal), Zac Corey (three, two), Ryan Cutino (one assist), Steve Fustado (one assist), Luke Heleno (one, one), Nico Izzi (one assist), Nick Pek (one assist) and Nick Pearl.