LANSDOWNE, Pa. — New Jersey Copa FC will host a home game in the National Premier Soccer League playoffs.
Goalkeeper Matt Perrella made six game-saving stops to preserve a 2-1 lead for more than 45 minutes as NJCFC recorded a 2-1 win over Junior Lone Star FC in the Northeast Conference Keystone Division regular season finale for both sides at Bonner Prendergast Catholic High School Sunday.
“I’m pleased we notched another positive result to conclude our regular season against Lone Star,” associate head coach Billy Englishby said. “We are incredibly proud of the body of work this group continues to build as we progress to the playoffs. Now we reset and prep for next week’s Keystone Conference playoff game; we look forward to continuing our journey.”
NJCFC will host an NPSL Keystone semifinal game at Saint John Vianney High School in Holmdel, N.J. Tuesday at 7 p.m.
If the Clarkstown SC Eagles defeat or tis West Chester United SC Sunday, Copa will clinch the No. 1 seed and the division’s regular season championship and would face the Electric City Shock Tuesday. If West Chester wins, NJCFC will be the No. 2 seed and host Clarkstown. The conference final will be on July 16 on the higher seed’s pitch.
NJCFC (7-1-2, 23 points) is 4-0-1 in its last five games. Junior Lone Star ended the season with 13 points and in sixth place in the division (4-5-1).
Perrella was named the man of the match,after he made a 2-1 halftime lead hold up under pressure. He handled several tough crosses in the second half to limit Lone Star’s opportunities while making at least eight saves. He made three point-blank saves in the first half alone.
Raphael Araujo, the NPSL player of the week, scored his 10th goal of the season in the 31st minute off a serve from Modou Sowe. Kevin Veliz finished a penalty kick in the 34th minute to make it 2-0. Lone Star’s Zoncher Dennis found the net in the 42nd minute to make it a one-goal differential.
