The Alternative Press

This was the Raiders 10th shutout of the year, as they improve to 16-1-2, while the Hilltoppers fall to 11-5-2.

 

"The guys did well today," Scotch Plains assistant coach Joe Mortarulo said. "They stepped up to the challenge. It's never easy to go away and play a team in their home town. The guys came out well. We had good energy from the get-go and were able to get the result."

 

Forward David Valian put the Raiders on the board in the 17th minute with a goal off a pass from Zach Lipshitz.

 

Later, in the 35th minute, Conor Kelly found the back of the net to give Scotch Plains a 2-0 lead going into halftime.

 

After the break, Chinchilla took over for the Raiders. After forward Rob Zukofsky put a header passed Summit goal keeper Brandon Krain, Chincilla scored back-to-back goals, one on a loose ball in front and another on a header off a left cross. His second goal put Scotch Plains ahead 5-0.

 

"Set pieces, we work on defensively and attacking-wise all year long," Mortarulo said. "It was hopefully a culmination of a lot of good things we were working on in training that we were able to get on the end of a few things tonight."

 

This was Scotch Plains' final regular season game. The Raiders play tomorrow against Governor Livingston in the Union County Tournament final.

 

Mortarulo said the 5-0 win for the Raiders on Thursday allowed the coaches to rest the starters in preparation for the tournament final.

 

"We were able to rest one or two guys at key times and come away with the result," he said.  "Preparation against a good opponent is important."

 

Regardless of the outcome of Friday's match, Scotch Plains will play Franklin on Tuesday in the first round of the state tournament.

 

Kick-off for Friday's Union County Tournament Final will be at 7:30 p.m. from Kean University.