The next goal for the repeat North 2, Group 1 state champion Dayton boys’ soccer team is to win its Group 1 semifinal this time to reach the Group 1 state championship match for the first time since 2009.
Last year the Bulldogs – after winning at Glen Ridge 2-1 in double overtime to win North 2, Group 1 – fell to Verona 1-0 in the Group 1 semifinal played at Indian Hills High School.
The Bulldogs will return to Oakland for this week’s Group 1 semifinal at Indian Hills. This time Dayton will be facing North 1 state champion Pompton Lakes Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
The Group 1 state championship game is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium in Union.
Dayton won its only state championship in 2009 when the Bulldogs and Palmyra played to a scoreless tie in the Group 1 final played at Hillsborough. Dayton and Palmyra were declared co-state champs. Dayton sophomore goalkeeper Brendon Moss pitched a shutout, while Dayton outshot Palmyra 16-9.
Dayton’s only other appearance in a state championship match was in 1959 when the Bulldogs lost to Verona in the Group 3 final.
Dayton, the fifth seed, won at third-seeded Secaucus 6-2 in Friday afternoon’s N2, G1 championship match. The Bulldogs scored three goals in each half and took control in the second 40 minutes after leading 3-2 at intermission.
Anthony Nagy scored three times, Diogo Barros twice and Ian Dragowitz once for head coach Felix Fabiano, who has guided Dayton to consecutive N2, G1 titles the past two seasons in addition to the 2009 Group 1 co-state championship.
Nagy and Bryce Forys were credited with two assists and Barros one.
Dayton goalie William Hodic was credited with making 12 saves.
Pompton Lakes, the top seed, blanked second-seeded Waldwick 3-0 in Friday’s North 1, Group 1 state championship game at Pompton Lakes. It was the first sectional title for the Cardinals in 12 years. Senior Carlo Gonzalez netted all three goals.
GROUP 1 SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, Nov. 14
at Indian Hills High School, 7:30 p.m.
North 2 champ Dayton (18-3-1) vs. North 1 champ Pompton Lakes (16-4-2)
at Paul VI, 7:30 p.m.
Central Jersey champ Highland Park (16-3-2) vs. South Jersey champ Glassboro (18-2-3)
GROUP 1 FINAL
Sunday, Nov. 19
at Kean University, 5:30 p.m.
Semifinal winners
2017 DAYTON BULLDOGS (18-3-1):
1-Joseph Adriance, senior
1-Machada Anthony, senior
17-Francisco Barbosa, senior
20-Diogo Barros, senior
24-Anch Baxi, senior
6-Evan Berkowitz, junior
26-Ian Dragowitz, sophomore
15-Aiden Forys, freshman
5-Bryce Forys, senior
18-Hunter Gollin, sophomore
1-William Hodic, senior
19-Ellie Kapengut, junior
16-Jagger Kebea, sophomore
26-Patrick Machado, sophomore
24-Christian Mancini, sophomore
12-Scott Maran, senior
13-Sean Martin, senior
2-Nico McNamee, senior
9-Anthony Nagy, senior
17-Vincent Pulice, junior
8-Jordan Wendolowski, senior
Head coach: Felix Fabiano
2017 POMPTON LAKES CARDINALS (16-4-2):
10-RIgon Abedini, sophomore
4-Jared Allen, senior
15-Sean Bastian, senior
12-Chris Burger, junior
19-Billy Calabrese, junior
21-Jason Charyak, senior
1-Jason Dubrovich, senior
9-Yianni Ekonomides, junior
11-Carlo Gonzalez, senior
5-Jack Gorstein, senior
16-Ramon Hernandez, junior
6-Bobby Jenkin, junior
13-Matt Koppel, sophomore
20-Mike Koppel, senior
3-Michael Magyar, senior
17-Norik Muharremi, sophomore
3-Adem Nadzak, senior
19-Piero Scrofani, senior
5-Christian Selca, junior
0-Chris Truono, junior
14-Nate Tucker
Head coach: Rob Edgar