Manalapan Braves back in state soccer final

Washington Township became the latest state playoff victim of Manalapan's defensive fortress and George Quintano's will.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT FRIEDMAN Above left: Manalapan midfielder Adam Rice gets a hearty congratulations after scoring his team's second goal at 29:55 of the second half during the state semifinal game against Washington Township last Tuesday. Above right: Manalapan's George Quintano and Washington Township's Chris Dunn fight for control of the ball during the game, which Manalapan won 2-0 to advance to last Friday's championship game against Clifton. In four state tournament victories, the Braves have yet to surrender a single goal and were one win away from the school's first boys soccer state championship after beating the South Jersey Group IV champions, 2-0.

Quintano proved that he is a catalyst as well as a finisher by setting up both Manalapan scores in the Group IV semifinal played at Neptune on Nov. 13.

Keeper Jake Grinkevich and his teammates along the backline were again stellar, keeping another team off the scoreboard.

The win sent the Braves to the Group IV State Championship game at the College of New Jersey for a second straight year (the game was played Nov. 16 after the Greater Media Newspaper Thanksgiving deadline). The Braves were to play North Jersey Section I champion Clifton in the final.

"The team has come together at the right time," said coach John Natoli. "They've been playing with a sense of urgency. They got a taste of it [state finals] last year and they want to get back and try and get a different result.

Manalapan lost to West Orange in the '06 final.

Although that was a more talented team, the '06 squad was the first in school history to get through the semifinals. The state final was new to it, and Natoli said it was shocking to them. With several veterans returning, these Braves are prepared for the state final experience. And, they are on an incredible role, having gone five state playoff games without giving up a single goal and that includes a doubleovertime game with Hunterdon Central that went to a shootout. They've only lost one game since the first week of September.

"We're doing the little things that don't show up in goals or assists," said Natoli. "The guys have bought into what we want to do. Everyone has a role."

Quintano has been the focal point of Manalapan's offense all season (27 goals). But, it's not always in his capacity to score himself. He can create scoring chances for his teammates when club's double- and triple-team him.

Washington Township wasn't going to let the speedy Quintano beat them last week, so he turned to playmaker in the semifinal. He set up Adam Rice in the 50th minute and Greg Grzelak nine minutes later for the game's only scores.

The two goals were more than Grinkevich and the defense of Jeff Weitz, Kevin Mulvnerton and Brandon Russo needed.

The Braves have been in a lot of tight games they readily admit could have gone either way. But, somehow Quintano has made the plays on offense, and the Braves have supreme confidence in their keeper.

"Jake has been playing well," said Natoli. "You're never comfortable with a onegoal lead, but you feel better with Jake in goal."

Manalapan (20-3-2) took that confidence into the State Championship match with Clifton (20-5) as they looked to become the school's first state championship soccer team.

Clifton beat favored Columbia, 1-0, in its semifinal.

Manalapan was looking to join Howell and Colts Neck as the only teams to win state championships in the Freehold District.