Saturday, August 4, 2001
By Forrest Robleto
SJSports Staff Writer
The South Jersey Barons were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs but still had a good reason to play. One of the teams that helped knock the Barons out of the playoffs was the Reading Rage and the Rage needed a win in one of their last two games to make the playoffs. The Barons wanted to make sure that they didn't get it here.
The Barons came out loose and strong and it looked like the Rage would have a tough night of it. Even without Paul Zgalich who was serving the third of a four game suspension (which will not carry into next season) the Barons looked strong, playing all offense. The Barons were rewarded four minutes into the game when Charlie Adams gave the ball up to Adam Schultz who slipped by Reading keeper Steve Woodowson and the Barons took a lead that would last the whole game. At the 9-minute mark the Barons scored again with Mark Southern's corner kick finding an open Pat Morris who scored from five yards out. At the 35th minute the Barons again connected as Charlie Adams broke through to make the score 3-0 Barons. The Rage turned up the heat at the end of the half but the score remained the same.
The second half was all Rage and Rob Vartugian as the Rage offense put the Barons keeper to the test. Pat Stanco opened the scoring for the Rage after Vartugian made a series of consecutive saves. The Rage continued a relentless offense that had Vartugian make save after incredible save. It took until the 86th minute for the Rage to get their second goal. The pressure didn't run out but the clock did. As the season ended for the Barons it did so on a nice note, with the win, with Rob Vartugian playing an outstanding game, and the Reading Rage needing a win in Rhode Island to move on (They got it 3-0 against Rhode Island on Sunday).
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