For the first time since 2019, the Green Wave Varsity Soccer team are Morris County Tournament Champions. On a beautiful Saturday night at Roxbury High School, Delbarton defeated rival Mendham 3-1 to capture the 2022 MCT title. Delbarton opened the scoring in the first half, as
Luca Tusche sent a perfect pass across the box where
Josh Hepplewhite knocked in a header in the upper right of the net from 15 yards out for the opening score. "The coaches like me staying in the box because of my height, so yeah, I try to stay central for some of those crosses and get my head on it when I can," Hepplewhite said.
Captain
Nate Zimmermann would double the Green Wave lead late in the first half, ripping a shot off the left post and in the net for a 2-0 lead. "I got a little fortunate with my touch to set myself up, but as soon as I pushed back past the defender I knew I had to shoot it," Zimmermann said. "So I shot it, and it hit the post and I was a little nervous, but when I saw it hit the side netting I was thrilled. So happy."
The Green Wave continued to put the pressure on the Mendham defense in the second half, and
William Pedicano broke though for the 3-0 lead. Pedicano scored on a header with 13:46 left in the game off a free kick assist from
Nate Zimmermann. While Mendham would score from the corner to make it 3-1, Delbarton would not allow another shot on goal, taking a 3-1 decision and a Morris County championship back to Mendham Road. "It's a phenomenal feeling," Hepplewhite said. "We've worked so hard this year, and after what happened last year, losing to Randolph in the final, it's given all the more incentive to get the result this year. And especially against local rivals like this made it all the sweeter."
"We don't take it for granted at all," coach
David Donovan said. "Especially last year -- we had a really good team last year…. We had beaten Randolph twice (in the) regular season and lost to them on this very field the third time. We were well aware of Mendham. We had good results against them the first two times, but we didn't take it for granted. We didn't want to repeat history. So the kids were really mindful of that."
Delbarton finishes the regular seaon this Friday against Montville at 4pm. Congrats to the 2022 MCT champion Green Wave!
