By: Edward Kensik – Correspondent / Record Sports
ELMWOOD PARK – A lot of teams would pretty much give up on the season after losing six out of their first seven games.
But the 2016 Elmwood Park boys soccer team did not give up and they made a name in the state playoffs that hopefully will last into 2017.
Despite the slow start, the Crusaders finished with a mark of 11-10-1 that included reaching the North 1 Group 2 state sectional semi-finals.
“Our league challenge fell short very early in the season due to a rough 1-6 start,” said Elmwood Park head coach Jan Andras. “However, the boys showed tremendous heart and commitment to turn the season around through hard-work and after that rough start we finished 10-4-1 for an overall record of 11-10-1. Further, we turned a number of heads in the NJSIAA North 1, Group 2 State Tournament by qualifying as the number 13 seed and progressing to the North 1, Group 2 State Tournament semifinals by defeating number 4 (seed) Ramsey and number 5 Hawthorne along the way.”
Despite being the underdog on the road, the Crusaders defeated Ramsey, 1-0, and Hawthorne, 2-0, respectively in the state playoffs before falling 4-0 to Newton, who would go to the Group 2 finals.
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