High School Boys Soccer:
Shawnee's Defense Keys Victory

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

Eastern was coming off of a tough victory in the overtime quarterfinals game on Friday. Coach Pete DeFeo knew that this game would not be easy. Knowing that defeating last year's Group 4 Champions was now in the past, his team had to continue with pressuring the Renegades defense.

Shawnee was the team the kept pressure on the Vikings keeper Doug Kellogg all game. Each shot on goal was denied by Kellogg...except two. The only two of the game.

During the first half, Shawnee had an apparent goal when a shot went off of an defender and bounced high.  Kellogg went out of the goal mouth and leaped up for the ball but could not reach it. The Renegades attacked the ball and kicked it toward the net. Eastern converged on it and cleared it out of their zone. The first half ended with no score.

Shawnee, coming off of a victory against Toms River East, got the 1st goal of the game by Jake Kindrachuk with 29:48 left in the game. Rocky Panarella had a chance to increase the score a few minutes later but could not fully control the bouncing ball. His shot within the 10 yard line went over the net. With the offense continuing to keep control in Vikings territory, Panarella made sure he got his second chance at scoring. He put Shawnee up 2 - 0 with a goal with 14:34 left in the game.

Keeper Ryan Grzeszczak was determined to keep that lead when Eastern started mounting pressure of it own. Coach Brian Gibney of Shawnee had prepared his team well to match up with each player and make sure no one was left alone. Eastern's Hakim Fobia did get free but was taken down and was given a penalty kick. He put up a shot that went high off the crossbar and rebounded back to him. With Shawnee's defenders now closing in on him, his second attempt was off the crossbar again. Each attempt to get a score was not successful and Shawnee advanced to the Group 4 Championship Game.