North Branch, NJ -- RVCC Men's Soccer continued their strong home form shutting out Middlesex CC, 2-0, behind 2nd half goals from Erick Hernandez and Geovanny Barboza.
Middlesex got off to a fast start stringing together several passes and not allowing the hosts a single pass attempt in the game's opening minutes. Over the first 25 minutes, the Blue Colts dominated the midfield and repeatedly stretched RVCC's back line with a barrage of long passes into the defensive third. Tony Chaparro and Dave Werner had to clear balls off the goal line with Ryan Hamblin beaten. The Lions bent but didn't break keeping Middlesex at bay while the attack finally began to find their feet. Geo Barboza shot right at the 'keeper and Anthony Hernandez spurned a good scoring chance as RVCC fought their way into the game. Middlesex defenders were also forced to scramble, clearing two goal-bound balls off their line after shots got past Andrew Leibowitz. The game headed to half time deadlocked at 0-0 with RVCC holding a 10-4 advantage in shots.
In the second half, the attack finally began to click. Erick Hernandez scored his team-leading 5th goal of the year in the 49th minute off a great pass by Tristan Gadson-Rigby. Gadson-Rigby raced into the attack from his right back spot, his strong run taking him past 2 defenders before slotting a ball to Hernandez who cut to his left and finished with a well-placed shot just inside the far post. Rafael Roman almost doubled the lead, hammering a shot off the right post which left Middlesex's goalkeeper with no chance after being played in by a Jon Fischer pass. Middlesex pushed forward looking for an equalizer but their counterattacks were snuffed out by Tony Chaparro and Andrew Williams. Ryan Lauder, a half-time sub for an injured Ryan Hamblin, claimed a pair of crosses to end further threats on goal.
Raritan Valley (2-4-2) travels to Rowan College at Gloucester County on October 4th for a 3:30 kickoff with the Roadrunners in Sewell.