HASBROUCK HEIGHTS – With four minutes remaining in a classic battle between New Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands rivals, it didn’t look promising for Vin Marchese to collect his 100th boys soccer win at Hasbrouck Heights.
Wallington’s Nick Kozdron had just scored the third goal of the second half, a monster blast from 35 yards, to give the Panthers a one-goal lead. Kozdron missed the entire first half with a sore foot, yet made his presence felt after halftime.
But the Aviators weren’t about to let their coach miss out on the milestone celebration.
“We just kept our heads up and do what we normally do,” said midfielder Scott LiVecchi. “We just kept looking for the victory.”
LiVecchi came up huge in the closing minute with a left-footed goal of his own off a steal from about 20 yards to tie the match at 3, then freshman Emiland Elizaj ended things with a goal 2 minutes into overtime, giving Hasbrouck Heights a hard-fought, well-earned 4-3 victory.
And with it, Marchese earned the 100th win of his 11-year tenure at Heights. It also marked the first time that Heights defeated Wallington since 2008.
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