“Whatever happens it’s not on me, but the moment you make that save to help your team is the best feeling in your life, and probably one of the proudest moments I’ve had so far.

“I’m so proud of Braedan who saved us there and had the grit and willpower to get us through despite being down 2-1 with his huge tying goal, and I appreciate every one of our players including those on our bench.”

For Leather, who has had some talented teams in past years, this season’s group might be his best.

“This is a talented team and we have some game-changing talent with Jan, Nick (Carascosa) and Braedan, and young guys like Noah Cesareo and Thomas Hunt are sophomore fullbacks who are also pretty good players in a strong lineup,” said the veteran Cougars head mentor. “Most importantly we’re healthy when we haven’t always been that way heading into past state tournaments. We don’t have the depth of some of the bigger schools we play since we have only 200 boys in our school, but we do have some very good players.”

“Being in the SEC (Super Essex Conference) American (Division) this season has helped us, seeing West Orange twice, St. Benedict’s, Seton Hall and Montclair, plus independent games against teams like Delbarton.

“It’s all prepared us for this point. In some ways you have to approach Sunday like other games, but we all know that we are going to have to bring something extra in a state final!”

NOTES- MKA won back-to-back Non-Public B state titles in 2011 and 2012 and was the runner-up in 2013 under coach Jordan Raper. The 2006 Cougars captured the program’s first state championship behind the guidance of coach Huey Ferguson…Gill St. Bernard’s with veteran coach Tony Benarsky along with Tim DiBiscelie and Ope Olakoko, had won six straight Non-Public B state titles from 2018 to 2024, while there was no NJSIAA state tourney in 2020 due to covid…Zumbado, the Knights’ superb sophomore goalkeeper, missed some early season games due to an injury....Ranney defeated Princeton Day School, 4-0, in the Non-Public, South B state sectional final also played on Thursday afternoon. 

NJSIAA Non-Public Soccer Championship Finals, Sunday, Nov. 16, at Franklin HS:

10 a.m: Non-Public B Boys: MKA vs. Ranney

12:30 p.m.: Non-Public A Boys: St. Benedict's vs. Pingry

3 p.m.: Non-Public A Girls: IHA vs. Paul VI

5:30 p.m.: Non-Public B Girls: DePaul vs. Rutgers Prep