Over the past two years, the losses for the Glen Ridge boys soccer team have gone way beyond its place in the standings, the team record or the results in the state tournament.
The deaths of former team members Max Renteria and Nathan Latifi over a 55-day span in the winter of 2022 took an emotional toll on a young team last year, then late this season coach Brian Ianni lost his mother, Patricia, after a lengthy illness.
As the team danced on the field after a 2-0 victory over 11th-seeded Verona in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 final at Watsessing Park in Bloomfield, it didn't begin to tell the story of its two-year journey.
"I think the burden of carrying the torch for Max and Nathan, it was a lot last year, especially for a young team," Ianni said.
"Then I lost my mother a month ago. But these boys worked with the assistants while I was away, they remained focused. But it's been a tough two years mentally. But they've been so locked in. It speaks to their character. They've been awesome."
That difficult stretch was capped by a run to the sectional title in impressive fashion, as the Ridgers (15-6-1) outscored four playoff opponents, 15-3.
Verona (11-7-2), taking a defensive-minded approach, kept the game scoreless through the first half, but a corner kick led to senior Ryan Mansfield jumping on a loose ball in front of the net to score 1:30 after intermission.
That goal forced the Hillbillies to start taking more chances, which led to senior Cole Moshos's goal off a cross from sophomore Max Fleischer with just 6:10 left to play.
"They've really been playing great soccer," Ianni said. "They knocked off some great teams and we were aware of how they were playing. They weren't real technical, but they were physical and they countered very well. That was our biggest concern.
"We started moving the ball a little, dropping it over the back line to create some space in the middle. We realized we needed to rely on set pieces. And we got a nice corner kick in and the ball bounced around and Ryan was able to capitalize."
Mansfield did not start the first half but made the most of his playing time in the second.
"He only plays about 15 minutes a game, but he creates trouble," Ianni said. He's a high-energy guy.
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