In a Non-Public A sectional final worthy of a championship stage, Delbarton boys soccer pushed nationally ranked No. 1 St. Benedict's Prep to their absolute limit, falling 3–2 in overtime on Wednesday in Newark. It was a match defined by grit, momentum swings, and a late rally that showcased everything the Green Wave had built throughout the season.
St. Benedict's jumped in front early, capitalizing on a long-range strike 12 minutes into the match. The Gray Bees doubled their lead later in the half—again from roughly 25 yards out—and carried a 2–0 advantage into the break.
But the second half belonged to Delbarton.
The momentum swung sharply when an intercepted pass by Delbarton resulted in a foul, forcing a St. Benedict's red card, giving Delbarton a man advantage for the remainder of regulation. On the ensuing free kick, Dylan Mazzarella drove a dangerous ball into the box that deflected off the wall. Cortland Martin pounced on the rebound and buried it, cutting the deficit to 2–1 just nine minutes into the half and breathing new life into the Green Wave sideline.
Delbarton continued to press, controlling possession and generating pressure in the attacking third as the minutes ticked down. With just 1:41 left in regulation, the breakthrough came. A deflected entry ball from Franco Piarulli redirected perfectly into the path of Martin, who hammered home his second of the day to tie the match 2–2 and send the Green Wave crowd into a frenzy.
The sectional final moved to overtime, where both sides traded tense moments. Martin nearly completed the comeback early in the overtime period, but his strike sailed inches over the crossbar. Ultimately, the deciding blow came on a 30-yard curving effort from the Gray Bees' Amadou Hann, whose shot found the upper corner for the golden goal.
Despite the heartbreaking finish, Delbarton walked off the field having proven its place among the nation's elite. The Green Wave showcased resilience and belief—rallying from two goals down, playing a man up, and forcing the top team in the United States into extra time on their home field.
It wasn't the ending the Green Wave hoped for, but it was a performance that reaffirmed the program's identity heading into next fall.
