Andrea Milsome might be the only person in the PSAL soccer community not surprised by 24th-seeded DeWitt Clinton’s shocking run to the PSAL Class A quarterfinals.
“I’ve known since the first week or two of the season we had the potential to be where we are right now,” the second-year boys soccer coach said. “It was just a case of whether the or not the boys stepped up and did it.”
After a mediocre regular season – the Governors finished fourth in Bronx A with a 6-5-1 record – Clinton has come together. It shocked No. 9 Tottenville, 1-0, in the first round and got the better of borough rival Bronx Science, 3-2 in overtime, in the second round Friday.
The two teams played tight matches during the regular season, one ending in a 1-all draw and Bronx Science winning the other, 2-1. Clinton didn’t have its starting IX for those meetings, though – Milsome has a policy of only playing her hardest workers in practice and the students who meet her academic demands.
“We went into this game knowing and believe we had a legitimate chance to win,” Milsome said. “Basically, the kids on my team – all of them – have finally come around after me drilling it into their heads the potential they have. … I have been able to play my strongest 11 and it shows.”
Darren Harris scored twice, including the game-winner in overtime, and Nestor Romero also found the back of the net for the Governors, who meet No. 1 Martin Luther King Jr. in the quarterfinals Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Riverside Park in Manhattan. Keeper Ziggy Carmejo made four saves in net, but was beaten by Bronx Science’s Julian Gilbey in the 78th minute, forcing overtime.
Harris sent Clinton (8-5-1) to the round of eight when he converted an opportunity in front. He took his time and buried the chance.
“That showed experience and composure for a relatively young player,” Milsome said.
Harris has been a huge addition to the Governors, a junior striker who scored 12 times during the regular season.
“You just look at the number of goals he’s scored to know how important he is to us,” Milsome said. “When has the ball in front of the ball, we have a goal – that’s how I feel. I’m very confident in his ability.”
Getting past MLK will be Clinton’s greatest test. The Knights had reached the PSAL Class A final 14 straight years before losing to Beacon in last year’s semifinals, are fifth in the country in the NSCAA/Adidas rankings and have a top-flight midfield featuring Ibrahim Diaby, Tarek Beckles and Bryan Moya.
“We have to go into it with the same exact mindset we have in every game as the season finished and these last two playoff games,” the coach said. “We have a chance to win. Soccer is the kind of game where anything can happen.”