HS Boys Soccer – Second-Half Spartans: Ocean 2, Long Branch 0

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Even when the Ocean boys soccer team appears to be overwhelmed, the Spartans – the No. 1 team in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 – have ways of stemming the tide. That, even more than its ability to dominate, is why Ocean is 23-1-3 over its last 27 games dating back to last season, which included 12-one-goal victories in an 18-win 2012 season.

Ocean once again found a way to stave off a worthy opponent Tuesday, beating No. 9 Long Branch 2-0 after a dominant first half by the Green Wave.

Wadneson Alexis (pictured against Wall earlier this season) scored the deciding goal in Ocean's 2-0 win over Long Branch on Tuesday. (Photo by Sport Shots WLB)

“We have an experienced team and we’re a confident team, so if things aren’t going well, we’re not going to hang our heads,” Ocean senior goalkeeper and Monmouth University recruit Chris Seager said. “They got the better of us early in the game but we were still tied at half, so there was no reason to panic and get away from what we wanted to do.”

Seager saved seven shots, including six in a first half that saw Long Branch outshoot Ocean 12-2. The shot advantage was 12-0 at one point before Ocean mounted an attack in the final four minutes of the half. That burst of energy carried into the second half, when the Spartans finally began to corral Long Branch’s possession game and develop an attack of their own.

“For whatever reason, we tend to come out flat,” Seager said. “It’s hard to explain, but it’s just how we’ve been so far this year and even at times last year. Once we get to the latter part of the first half, we usually start putting some things together and creating some chances.”

Sophomore Wadneson Alexis broke a scoreless tie in the 52nd minute when he gathered the ball 35 yards from the goal, dribbled through two defenders, carried the ball to the right side of the 18-yard box and slammed a shot to the far left corner of the net, past sophomore goalkeeper Gilberto Matildes.

The goal gives Alexis six goals in six games so far this season and the sophomore had two other one-on-one chances against Matildes, but pushed those two chances wide of the frame.

Ocean caught a break in the 68th minute when a Long Branch defender tackled the ball away from Alexis inside the 18-yard box and while on the ground, made contact with the ball with his right arm. The foul gave Ocean a penalty kick, which senior Justin Silverberg converted to push the Spartans lead to 2-0.

While Long Branch launched an early assault on the Ocean goal, only three of the 12 shots were particularly dangerous. Seager pushed a shot wide of the left post in the early going, let a 35-yard shot by Diego Galiz sail just over the crossbar, and stopped a clean strike by sophomore Fabio DeSousa late in the first half that was ticketed for the far upper right corner of the netting.

“Coach (Tom Reilly) told us before the game that they are going to knock the ball around, they are going to get good build-up, but when it comes to scoring goals, they don’t have many guys who are comfortable looking to score,” Seager said. “They got a couple good chances and put some shots on me, but for the most part, they had some trouble finishing.”

The Spartans got by Tuesday thanks to strong ends of the formation, with Seager in the back and Alexis up top with Silverberg. The midfield picked up its play as the game wore on.

“It definitely gives us an edge to have those weapons,” Seager said. “We know we’re not out of it. I know we’re dynamic up top with Waldo (Alexis) and Justin and those guys, and I think the rest of the guys know they can count on me to make a save if we need it.”

Box Score

Ocean 2, Long Branch 0