Haddon Heights survives against rival Haddonfield

There can be debates about the best high school boys' soccer rivalry, but few reach the level of Haddonfield-Haddon Heights.

Teams don't win these games as much as survive them, and Tuesday's survivor turned out to be Haddon Heights, where apparently they forgot to tell the Garnets that after graduating 14 seniors, this might be a little bit of a rebuilding season.

Matt Taylor's goal in the 95th minute off a cross from the consistently dangerous George Gans ended this marathon, giving the Garnets a double-overtime, 1-0 win over visiting Haddonfield in a physical but clean Colonial Conference game.

Everyone knows the close proximity of these schools, and in soccer, their rivalry is as spirited as in any sport.

"It's always fun and really competitive when we play, and when you win, you feel so good," Haddonfield coach Joe Falana said. "And when you lose, you feel so bad."

His voice trailed off, allowing time for that bad feeling to sink in.

Actually, Haddonfield shouldn't be feeling so bad, after playing Heights on more than even terms.

Then again, Haddonfield has one of the greatest soccer traditions in South Jersey, with seven state titles under Falana, so moral victories aren't readily accepted.

This season, though, Haddonfield is only 3-4-1, despite being stingy as usual on the defensive end. Since a 2-2 tie with West Deptford, Haddonfield has suffered three straight 1-0 defeats.

"We just can't put the ball in the net right now," Falana said.

It might be little consolation, but few others have found the back of the net against Heights. Led by aggressive sophomore goalkeeper Jon Weaver, the Garnets (6-1) have allowed just two goals all season.

And Heights has won six in a row since a 1-0 loss to defending South Jersey Group 2 champion West Deptford, which scored on a second-half penalty kick.

By the way, the Garnets' next opponent?

West Deptford, on Thursday at home.

So once again, there has been no dropoff even though Heights coach Jeff Eppright has had to replace eight starters. With 279 career wins, Eppright expects each of his teams to be competitive, and he's usually not disappointed.

Gans, Taylor, and senior stopper Austin McCleery have been the leaders of this young team that decided to skip the rebuilding phase.

Tuesday's goal was an example of the big-play ability of Gans and Taylor. Gans is so quick and knows how to unload the ball in an instant. His cross from the right flank went through a few bodies to Taylor, who was standing on an angle, shot from 12 yards out, and saw the ball bounce off the inside post and into the net.

Game over.

"This is one of the biggest rivalries in South Jersey, and to win a game like this way is awesome," Taylor said. "We live for this."

He wasn't exaggerating.

Players from both towns grow up dreaming of being part of this rivalry, and if anybody needed to be reminded why, they only had to witness the latest classic in this ongoing duel.

Haddonfield   0 0 0 0 – 0

Haddon Heights   0 0 0 1 – 1

Goal: HH-Matt Taylor.

Saves: H-Vincent DelDuca 3, Alex Reinicker 4; HH-Jon Weaver 7.