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The red-hot DePaul boys' soccer team allowed three goals Wednesday night against West Milford. But the Spartans were always in control of the contest, pumping in a half-dozen of their own en route to a 6-3 victory.
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DePaul (9-3-1) got off to a quick 3-0 lead in the first 15 minutes against West Milford (1-9-2). Rich Haggerty kicked off the scoring with a left footed shot from outside the box that banked in off the goalpost. Soon after DePaul added their second goal on a header by Michael Minarik off a long throw-in. Haggerty converted his second of the game on a screened shot that froze the Highlanders’ goalie.
The Highlanders answered with two goals in less than three minutes to get back in the game. Jordan Carmichael scored both goals on identical plays coming off throw-ins. West Milford continued to play sound soccer until DePaul's Nicola Mariella blasted one from long range near the end of the first half to make it 4-2.
The first few minutes of the second half provided little excitement as the teams didn’t create any serious scoring chances. The game went back and forth until DePaul tallied its fifth on a shot from Xavier Graham just inside the box off another long throw-in. From then on, DePaul controlled the play of the game, constantly pushing forward and missing on a few close calls.
The Spartans' cruise to victory was briefly slowed when a well placed shot by Jason Berlinger off a free kick pass gave the Highlanders their third goal and a bit of hope. West Milford seemed to be back in the game until Haggerty added his third of the game on a shot from outside the box to ice the game.
DePaul was able to regain command of the game every time West Milford made a run. The Spartans put on the field a team good enough to earn them a win even though they rested a few starters for Saturday's county tournament semi-final matchup against Passaic Tech.
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