The Delbarton Middle School soccer team advanced to the GMCJSCA final yesterday after a thrilling win over Mendham Boro in penalty kicks 4-3. 

Delbarton had a phenomenal defensive performance, anchored in net by Neil Zacharia '27 and George Bailey '27.  Richard Messano '27, Dylan Ross '27, Matthew Issac '27, and Cole Dustin '28 held a strong back line and kept Mendham Boro scoreless.  The teams were deadlocked at the end of regulation and overtime so the game went to penalty kicks.  After the first five rounds, the teams were still tied so the game went to rounds of one.  If either team scored and saved the opposing team's penalty kick in that round, they would advance to the final. 

Cole Dustin '27 converted his 5th round penalty kick to force extra rounds.  Mendham Boro made their penalty kick in the 6th round and Ryan Shannon '27 had to score or else the game would be over.  Ryan stepped up to the spot and buried his shot to keep the Green Wave season alive.  Both teams missed their 7th round shots so it was onto the 8th round.  Boro's shot in the 8th round rattled off the crossbar, bounced straight down, and made the save to keep the ball out of the net. Hudson Yee '27 approached the spot with poise and scored the game winning penalty kick to send his teammates into a frenzy. 



Delbarton will host Mendham Township in the GMCJSCA Group 1 Final on Tuesday, November 1 at 4:00 on Lower Abbey Field, Delbarton's first championship appearance since 2014. Come out and support the Delbarton MS Soccer team next Tuesday!