Kearny and Harrison boys soccer teams dominate in playoff openers
Injuries have hindered head coach Scott Millar from witnessing his Kearny boys soccer team reach its full offensive potential this season. However, recent performances have closely mirrored the vision Millar had for the Kardinals back in August. Seeded third in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournament, Kearny kicked off the playoffs with convincing 5-0 victories over Morris Knolls and Passaic Tech.
Kearny, now boasting a record of 16-4-1, heads into Wednesday’s semifinal against Montclair having won all five of its games since a disappointing loss in the Hudson County Tournament final, where they were outscored 20-1. Millar expressed optimism about the team's current state, noting, "There’s no doubt that we’re in a pretty good place right now and we’re healthy or as healthy as we probably could be at this point right now, considering we’ve certainly lost some significant pieces to season-ending injuries. But the group is healthy, the group is confident right now, and we’ve had our main players play extremely well. We’ve had our supporting players step up and really contribute on the goal sheet, on the assist column. And the play has been very good right now."
Colin McKenna has been a standout player, contributing two goals and an assist in both state games, bringing his season totals to 21 goals and 12 assists. While finding consistent goal scorers behind McKenna was a challenge during the regular season, recent games have seen junior Jose Hernandez step up, scoring in four of Kearny’s last five matches. Hernandez notably posted his first career hat trick against Morris Knolls and followed it up with a goal and two assists against Passaic Tech. Lucas Ramirez also made his mark with two goals and an assist in the latter match, while senior Gabriel Wahby recorded consecutive shutouts in goal.
Millar commended the contributions of sophomore Matheus DaSilva, who has stepped into the center-back role following a season-ending injury to starter Philip Dudek. He also highlighted the efforts of Victor Perez, Jeremiah Huff, and Vitor Denadai, stating, "We’ve had some great play out of many guys over the last couple of weeks and we need those goals from other players. You can’t survive on just one guy being able to get goals. You need a supporting cast, you need some guys right now to step up and finish. And we’ve had some really good moments out of not just Jose, but out of Colin, out of Rayan Zaouia and Lucas Ramirez right now. We’ve been waiting for this moment and it’s coming at the right time."
Meanwhile, just a few miles away in Harrison, head coach Mike Rusek Jr. shares a similar sense of confidence regarding his Blue Tide team as they prepare for their North Jersey, Section 2, Group 2 semifinal against Bernards. Harrison, the top seed, opened the tournament with a staggering 9-0 victory over 16th-seeded Caldwell, followed by a 5-0 win against rival Lyndhurst in the quarterfinals.
Key players driving Harrison's playoff momentum
Musa Bah has been pivotal in Harrison's offensive success, leading the charge with three goals and three assists in the playoffs, raising his season totals to 19 goals and 13 assists. Alex Zambrano has also contributed significantly with three goals and an assist, while Mamadou Oury Bah and Johao Narvaez each added a goal and three assists. Impressively, nine different players have found the back of the net in the two state tournament wins.
Rusek expressed his excitement about his team's potential, stating, "I’ve had years where I was unsure and even nervous of my team heading into the states. But with this group, I really just feel excitement for how good we can actually be. I don’t think I’ve seen the best game of the year yet from our team."
What the Scoreboard Won't Tell You
While the offensive prowess has been anticipated, the defensive strength has been a pleasant surprise, as Harrison has recorded seven consecutive shutouts, marking their longest streak in over a decade. Goalkeepers Renato Morales and Daniel Arias have shared duties during this impressive stretch, supported by strong performances from center defenders Diego Castaneda, Smile Barbaran, and Elian Apolo, along with sophomore center-defensive midfielder Fabian Palacios.
As both teams advance in their respective tournaments, the focus will be on maintaining momentum and capitalizing on their current form. With key players stepping up and a strong sense of confidence, Kearny and Harrison are poised to make significant strides in the playoffs.
