After losing the New Jersey State Championship on a controversial goal, there were high hopes and expectations for the 2017 Scotch Plains-Fanwood boys soccer season. Little did they know that they would be held to only one goal through their first four games. The slow start continues for the Raiders offense and their 1-3 win to loss record accounts for it.
On Tuesday, the Linden Tigers strolled onto Wexler Field with revenge on their mind from last seasons 7-0 slaughter. They got exactly what they came for: Linden shocked the Raiders by a final score of 1-0. The lone goal coming from Linden’s Alex Tarnawski, on an incredible, crowd silencing shot from outside the box, that rocketed past SPF goalie Aaron Schack and into the left side of the goal, with eight minutes 30 seconds left to play in the first half.

As the game continued, SPF had multiple opportunities to tie things up but couldn’t find the back of the net. With 32:30 remaining in the second half, SPF’s Anthony Miguelino’s shot from point blank range. The ball went past the goalie, but was cleared due to a heads up play by a Linden defender, just before the ball trickled in. A late and controversial offside call on SPF’s Ryan Widman with 13 minutes to play, seemed to deflate all of SPF’s hope on potentially tying the game.

Fortunately for SPF, it is early in the season, so they still have plenty of opportunities to turn their season around and get prepared for a deep run in the county and state tournaments. SPF will look to turn things in the right direction when they play Elizabeth (2-1) on Sept. 13 at 6:30 pm on William’s Field and crosstown rival, Westfield (2-1-1), on Sept. at 3:30pm at Garry Kehler Stadium.