Eastern advances on penalty kicks

Eastern boys' soccer coach Steve Kosyla didn't start goalie Frank Buchel in Thursday's South Jersey Group 4 quarterfinal against Clearview because he had overtime and, specifically, penalty kicks on his mind.

Buchel and Scott Koehler often have split games in goal, and Kosyla decided to start Koehler, with Buchel earning the closer's role.

The decision paid off as Eastern advanced on penalty kicks after the teams played a scoreless tie through regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods.

The top-seeded Vikings will host Cherokee in Monday's semifinals.

Buchel stopped two of four penalty kicks he faced. Eastern won the penalty-kick segment, 4-2, with Joe Bertucci providing the clincher. Zev Fayer, Ray Kaldany, and R.J. Biondi also connected for the Vikings.

"I have three goalies and would have felt comfortable putting any of them in for the penalty kicks, but Frank seemed a little better in practice," Kosyla said. "I thought this game might go into penalty kicks with the way Clearview plays defense, and I wanted Frank to be in there from the second half on."

The result is recorded as a tie because of NJSIAA rules, so Eastern is 15-3-2 and one win from matching the single-season school record of 16 wins set in 2006. No. 9 seed Clearview, the Tri-County Conference Royal Division champion, finished its season 11-5-3.

Buchel said the key was studying the shooters. He made both his saves diving to his left.

"You look at their body language and their eyes and try to get an idea where they might shoot the ball," he said.

For a scoreless draw, this game had a great pace and more than enough chances. Eastern took it to the Pioneers, hitting the post five times. During the first overtime, the Vikings stepped up the pace and Nick Tierce almost ended matters when he hit the far post on a bullet from outside the box in the 82d minute.

The game featured a matchup of two of South Jersey's top players, Eastern defender Kwasi Archeampong on Clearview midfielder Kevin Calloway.

Archeampong didn't allow Calloway many touches, although the Clearview senior sent a dangerous shot just by the far post from a right angle inside the box in the 14th minute. Calloway's touch is as good as any player's in South Jersey, and he has pinpoint passing ability.

"I was trying to make sure he didn't turn on me because he's such a dangerous player," Archeampong said.

Rain fell most of the day on Eastern's turf field, but both teams played a strong brand of soccer and each exhibited great respect for the other.

"It was a great high school game by both teams," Clearview coach Dodd Terry said. "It's a tough way to go out, but I couldn't be prouder of my team."

Bertucci ended matters by drilling his penalty kick into the lower right corner. He also had a strong game as an outside back, often starting the offense by making successful runs.

"This was a very clean, hard-fought game," Bertucci said. "It's a shame it had to end on a penalty kick, but I'm glad that we're advancing."

Clearview   0 0 0 0 – 0

Eastern   0 0 0 0 – 0

Eastern advances 4-2 on penalty kicks.

Saves: C-Gianluca Bastia 9, E-Scott Koehler 2, Frank Buchel 2.