Interiano's goal puts Brentwood in state final again
Brentwood sophomore Johnathan Interiano celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against Scarsdale during a Class AA state semifinal at Middletown High School. (Nov. 20, 2010) Credit: Christopher Pasatieri
MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — There are times when Herson Guzman feels like he is on an island and all alone. As the Brentwood goalkeeper, the offense is so good they possess the ball often and keep play in the opponent’s end or the defense keeps the ball away from Guzman.
For one of the few times this season, Guzman was peppered with shots and he came through with 11 saves to lead Brentwood to a 1-0 win over Scarsdale (Section I) yesterday in a state Class AA boys soccer semifinal at Middletown High School. Johnathan Interiano scored off an assist from Andres Franco with 18:58 left in the game for Brentwood (19-1-2), which is ranked seventh nationally, according to ESPN FAB 50 rankings. Scarsdale is ranked 17th.
“It feels great,” Guzman said. “I did my job because I didn’t let a goal in. It’s a lot more fun to be involved. I love to dive. Some games are boring for me, but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.”
Scarsdale (20-3) brought the pressure in the final 12 minutes and Guzman made three saves, including a diving save with 1:30 left. Just prior to that save, defender Irvin Flores blocked a shot and the rebound went to a Scarsdale player who took a shot that Guzman stopped.
“When he gets tested, he comes up big,” Interiano said. “Luckily, we had him today because they had some good strikers. I haven’t seen him make that many big saves all season. We know he’s a good keeper.”
Scarsdale also had a good goalkeeper. Sam Cannon made nine of his 12 saves in the first half. The one he couldn’t make came when Franco sent a ball past two defenders. Interiano raced to it and slipped it past Cannon, who came far out of the net.
“I didn’t expect it,” Interiano said. “It came out of nowhere. I just got to it and touched it in.”
Said Guzman: “He hustles and never gives up. It looked like he wasn’t going to get to the ball and he hustled for it.”
For the fifth time in six seasons, Brentwood will play in the state championship game. Brentwood has won 11 consecutive games and will play Baldwinsville (18-2-1) in the finals at 1 p.m. today. Baldwinsville defeated Clarence in the other semifinal, 2-1, in double overtime. The Indians will attempt to win their third state championship. They last won in 2008.
“I’m a history buff when it comes to Long Island soccer,” Brentwood coach Ron Eden said.
“I just have the kids that believe in the system. I’m really hard on them and they respond every year. This was the second best game I was associated with. The talent on that field was unbelievable. One of the Suffolk coaches told me this was like a Division I college game. It was incredible. It was nerve-racking, but fun to watch.”
Brentwood will be without defender Marvin Chinchilla, who picked up a yellow card, his third of the postseason, and by rule can’t play today.
