Circle Chevrolet Boys Soccer Team of the Week: Long Branch
Every week for the balance of the season, the Shore Sports Network will select the Circle Chevrolet Boys Soccer Team of the Week.
This week’s recipient of the honor is Long Branch. The Green Wave (4-2-1) rebounded from a 2-1 setback to No. 2 Christian Brothers Academy on Sept. 12 with a pair of overtime triumphs against Southern and Middletown South before settling for a 2-2 draw with host Manalapan on Thursday.
On Saturday, senior Stiviny Silva converted a penalty kick in regulation and delivered the golden goal a minute into overtime to lift Long Branch past Southern, 2-1. Two days later, Silva struck twice to raise his season goal sum to a Shore Conference-best nine and senior Rey Guzman buried a 35-yard blast in the second overtime to seal a 4-3 decision over Middletown South.
The Green Wave extended its unbeaten string to three with the tie at Manalapan on Thursday. Deadlocked at 1-1, junior Patrick O’Dwyer snapped the stalemate for Long Branch with a finish deep into the second half only to have the Braves counter with an equalizer in the 79th minute.