Story by Sean Farrell / NorthJersey.com
GARFIELD – Martin Czovek lost a shirt, but won the battle for Garfield in its stadium debut.
His overtime goal was the perfect way to christen their new facility.
The Boilermakers punched their ticket to the Group 3 final by rallying to beat Summit, 3-2, in thrilling fashion on Wednesday afternoon. It all culminated with a mono a mono battle after Eric Zawada was tripped up in the box.
Czovek stepped to the line for the ensuing penalty and drilled a shot inside the right post. After coming up clutch, the Garfield centerback raced over to the bleachers in a scene he’s envisioned for a while.
“The shirt off? Yeah, I’ve always wanted to do that,” Czovek said. “That’s just my thing.”
Things did not come easy for Garfield in the housewarming party on Palisade Ave.
The Boilermakers had to overcome a two-goal deficit and a brilliant effort from Summit goalie Sebastian Arias (nine saves). But a skillful offense and a stern halftime speech by coach Piotr Sala helped push their winning streak to 12 games.
“There was a little yelling and hollering,” senior Brenden Baeza said. “But when coach started speaking, we all were motivated, locked in and ready to go back on the field.”
“A little shake of the team,” Sala admits. “Some stronger words. But it works.”
What it means
Garfield (19-1) moves on to face Robbinsville (18-5-1) in the state final at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Franklin High School. It is the first appearance for the Boilermakers since winning in 2015 as a Group 2 school.
“It feels amazing,” Baeza said. “I’m personally going out with a bang in my last year playing soccer here at Garfield High School. We’ve struggled in the past, but making it means everything to me.”
A Bergen County team will appear in back-to-back finals this weekend with Ramsey shutting out Bernards (3-0) in the Group 2 semis.
Inside the match
Garfield had its share of chances in the first half, but still went to the break down 2-0. Quinn Dillon and Jack Staples scored back-to-back goals for Summit and midfielder TJ Flack headed a Garfield shot off the line.
The Boilermakers got within one in the 51st minute when Czovek buried the first of two penalty kick attempts. Baeza followed with his team-leading 25th goal less than three minutes later.
“The minute I scored the goal, I could feel that we would be the ones to step up and they would start getting upset, mad and start clipping,” Baeza said. “The game did end getting chippy.”
Summit was given four yellow cards in the match and went a man down with 8:20 left in regulation when Staples was booked for the second time. That freed up some room for Zawada, who was hauled down early in the first overtime on a clear foul by the left corner.
Czovek said he practiced for moments like this time and time again with his father – a former soccer player who grew up in Hungary.
“When I take a penalty, my mind is blank,” Czovek said. “I have a side already chosen and I go up there and take it.”
Field of dreams
Garfield had only practiced on the new high school field twice before opening it up against Summit.
The facility is still a work in progress with the tennis courts and baseball and softball fields yet to come. The school needed to rent a scoreboard for the soccer match and held the game at 1:30 p.m. in the absence of lights.
In the end, enough construction was done to send the seniors off with one special memory.
“Being able to walk on this field and see all the students, teachers and Board of Ed means everything to me,” Baeza said. “Last year we could only practice here because there were holes or bumps. You couldn’t even pass a ball straight.”
