Not only did Center Moriches defeat Mattituck High School in the Suffolk County Class B boys semifinals Wednesday, did it in a spectacular way.
Red Devils goalkeeper Colin Raupp scored off a 70-yard free kick for the equalizing goal in a 2-1 victory.
Top-seeded Center Moriches will play No. 3 Babylon for the title at Diamond in the Pines Saturday at 3 p.m.
Center Moriches and Mattituck have the longest boys soccer rivalry in Suffolk County, if not Long Island, dating back to 1936.
According to a story by Bob Liepa in The Suffolk Times: coach Chris O’Brien texted his keeper before the game.
“I said to him: ‘It’s your last game on this field. You’re a senior playing your last game on this field, let’s make a memory,’ ” O’Brien said.
Raupp complied – spectacularly.
Erik McKenna’s goal at 13:03 gave the Tuckers (4-5-2) a halftime lead before Raupp performed his heroics booting his long-range free kick over the head of goalkeeper Steve Moeck. It was the first goal Raupp conceded in nine matches.
“I’ve been doing this for 37 years, and it’s one of the crazier goals I’ve ever seen,” O’Brien told the Times.
Only 67 seconds after Raupp’s goal, Michael Luongo tallied the game-winner as Center Moriches won for the 10th consecutive time.
For the Suffolk Times story, visit: