After a bounce-back season, the Centurions (10-6-2) had dreams of winning the title in the Region 19 playoffs, but those dreams turned into nightmares as they lost to the Ocean County Vikings (9-2-1) 3-0 on Oct. 23.
Bucks started the game well enough, controlling the action early on, but continued offensive pressure by Ocean yielded many more chances, and eventually, goals.
In addition, the Centurions were without starting mid-fielder Kevin Hilton, who was suspended during the last match due to an accumulation of five yellow cards during the regular season.
Co-captain, Mike Klimowicz said, “We definitely missed Kevin out there, he solidifies our mid-field and gives us a bigger presence out there.”
Klimowicz did everything he could in net to keep Bucks in the game, making several key close-range saves at times.
But Ocean scored two goals in the first half, in an almost eerily similar situation to the Lady Centurion’s game the day before.
The first goal came on a close range shot hit low and away from Klimowicz after a key defensive breakdown. The Ocean striker recovered the ball between two Bucks defenders and walked in on goal.
The second goal Klimowizc allowed should be considered the goal of the game. The powerfully struck shot notched the upper left corner, well out of reach of the keeper.
Klimowicz remarked, “That shot was too perfect, I had no chance at it.”
Down 2-0 at halftime, Coach Justin Burroughs was confident the team could rally. “We’re making mistakes, allowing them the possessions. We know what we need to do out there… just keep it moving, sprint to the ball, possession leads to goals,” he said.
Co-captain Sean O’Neill likewise tried to rally the team, saying, “It’s just two goals here guys, we have plenty of time to get it back.”
Bucks started the second half nearly as well as they started the first half, but again, key offensive chances for Ocean kept coming.
Forced to press a more wide-open style of play to get back in the game, the Centurions appeared at times to regress to a kick and chase strategy, rather than their usually crisp and possession-minded style of play.
Ocean added an insurance goal on a mad scramble just in front of the goal mouth that saw Klimowicz stop two close range shots on goal, but barely fail to keep the third attempt out of net.
The net-minder shrewdly tried to “sell” that third save, but the near linesman signaled to the referee that the ball had indeed passed the goal line.
Certainly downcast after their earlier-than-anticipated exit from the playoffs, the Centurions had nothing to be ashamed of.
Burroughs said, “It was our consistency all year that got us here. We just didn’t have (that consistency) today, but it was a good year.”
The family, friends and fans who attended the game indicated their own agreement with that sentiment, giving the team a rousing ovation directly after the game.