Gill Withstands MKA's Pressure
While Riding Scali's Goal To Title

MONTCLAIR- The big-game atmosphere was certainly ever-present with a large crowd on hand at Van Brunt Field on a sunny mid-November Friday afternoon as two perennial rivals in Gill St. Bernard's and Montclair Kimberley Academy were ready to write yet another chapter in one of the state's most competitive, longstanding soccer rivalries.

Host MKA (19-4) had numerous prime chances to score with a flurry of set pieces and opportunistic, unsetttled situations throughout the match, but it was Gill (15-6-1) with stellar work by freshman goalkeeper Felipe Zumbado (10 saves) and a quick-strike goal in the 60th minute from senior standout Dan Scali off a terrific assist from junior Brendan Ferreira which paved the way as the Knights won their 10th straight state sectional title, including six in a row in Non-Public, North B, with a 2-0 triumph over the Cougars.

Gill, seeking their sixth straight overall Non-Public B state title, will meet Moorestown Friends in next Thursday's (Nov. 21) state final at Franklin High School in Somerset County.

Moorestown Friends, which won the South B crown by defeating Princeton Day School, 4-3, via a penalty kick shootout after 100 minutes of deadlocked soccer, lost to Gill, 5-0, in last year's overall Non-Public B state final.

Scali, who recently returned to action after suffering a fractured collarbone earlier this season, snapped a scoreless deadlock when he raced inside the 18-yard area, received the perfect feed from Ferreira, and in rapid-fire fashion, blasted the ball into the back of the net.

"I saw an opening and the ball was fed to me in a perfect place for me to finish," said Scali, who scored his team-leading 10th goal of the season. "From that point on you could feel that the momentum was definitely with us the rest of the way."

Gill added an insurance goal with 5:19 remaining as Daniel Vasquez scored with an assist from fellow senior Max Voigt.

Zumbado, a precocious, young goal keeper with the poise and skills of a seasoned veteran, came up with save after save as Cougars such as sophomore CJ Dike and junior Nicholas Carrascosa were dangerous in multiple situations, including a semi-breakaway by Dike with just over 11 minutes remaining, which the Knights thwarted as defenders were able to retreat quickly and Zumbado regained his footing after apparently slipping for just a moment.

"My defense was outstanding and our guys did such a great job defending their set pieces," said Zumbado. "MKA had some good chances, but we were able to keep them from scoring which was a real team effort."

The Cougars, who came into the match with 13 clean sheets and the most wins of any team in Essex County, created strong chances but just could not convert.

Still, despite losing to Gill for the third straight year in the North B sectional final, and fifth time in six seasons since 2018, 18th-ranked MKA showed why it was one of the best teams in Essex this fall.

"It's a great rivalry and has been for years," said Gill veteran coach Tony Bednarsky. "They play a terrific brand of soccer, are very well coached, and have been a very good team for several years now.

"They beat us in the preps (2-0 in the state prep B-Division Tournament final, also at Van Brunt Field), and we knew it would be yet another close battle with them again today.

"Having Dan Scali back in the lineup, after he was unable to play in the prep final with the broken collarbone, was huge for us; and you saw why as he showed his great ability once again by coming up with such a huge goal for us when we needed it most.

"And, Felipe in goal is so advanced for his age. I have had college coaches tell me he's ready to play right now at that level.

"It's a team that keeps bouncing back regardless of a tough loss or two along the way throughout the season, and we keep winning the big ones.

"And this one, agaiinst a great opponent, was a fantastic match, and victory.

"Now we will go out and try to win one more game."

For MKA, it's the conclusion of another superb season that included that prep B title and an appearance in the semifinals of the Essex County Tournament.

The Cougars will graduate key seniors including their tri-captains, goalkeeper Alex Provost (who had 4 saves on Friday) and midfielders Lucas Furlonge and Joey Nigro, but the team will return a host of talent in 2025 including standout junior back Braeden Keegan, sophomore Gustavo Rosen and the aforementioned, talented forwards Dike and Carrascosa.

Follow Steve Tober on Twitter @Chattermeister