B

Late game heroics from Dylan Lopez weren’t quite enough to keep Morristown West’s season alive against Science Hill.

It was a beautiful night for soccer at Burke-Toney Stadium as the two faced off in the first round of the Region 1-AAA Tournament on Wednesday after the original Tuesday night kickoff was rescheduled due to threat of severe weather. Unfortunately for the home crowd, the Hilltoppers scored three goals to start and edged out the Trojans, 3-2.

The game appeared to be out of reach for West in the 53rd minute when Science Hill scored their third unanswered goal off a beautiful free kick, but Lopez had other plans. He scored a goal off the following kickoff, providing him and his team with a renewed sense of vigor that nearly brought them all the way back in the end.

“I think I had a good performance, it just came a little late,” said Lopez when asked of his play. “I think we started a little off, but we found ourselves at the end. But again, it was just too late.”

Things took a while to get going in the first half, with both teams coming out tight in the early stages. Around the 30 minute mark, once the teams had the opportunity to settle into the weight of the game and feel each other out, things started to pick up.

Lopez had a good look at the goal for West in the 32nd minute by way of a ball in from fellow winger Cole Grimaldi. The game began to shift, however, when Science Hill broke through on a counter in the 35th and scored the game’s first goal.

The Hilltoppers would also nearly net a header in the 36th and pressure the goal again in the 39th off of a corner, but the game remained 1-0 at half.

That scoreline wouldn’t last much longer though, as Science Hill scored their second goal just a minute into the second half. West’s effort began to fall flat following the goal, and despite game-long defensive efforts from seniors Luke Biery, Braden Melling and Elias Perez, they again conceded in the 53rd.

West coach Jonathan Hanna had high praise for his seniors after the game.

“The guys have been immense for us this year, it’s just been unbelievable,” Hanna said. “Last year Braden and Cole missed major time. Braden was a big, big help for us in the back today, especially with his height. We’re definitely going to miss all of their leadership next year.”

Lopez also had high praise for the seniors.

“Oh yeah, they helped me a lot,” he said. “Especially Braden in defense and Cole up top. And Luke is probably one of the best midfielders I’ve ever played with. I really love playing with them, sad that it’s all over.”

Directly following the third goal, Lopez grabbed the ball, ran it to midfield, and quickly lined up. Before many spectators could realize what was happening, he launched a shot from 55 yards out that sailed over the opposing keeper’s outstretched arms and put the Trojans on the board.

This goal ignited a fire under Lopez and the entire team for West.

“We were not at our usual self. There was no intensity in the game,” said Hanna of the impact the goal had on the landscape of the game. “We were just knocking it around like we were playing in the backyard, but Dylan scored another great goal and got the momentum to shift towards us.”

Following the goal, he moved back into the midfield, applying box to box pressure to the Science Hill side.

Lopez’s second half felt more like watching a great basketball player take over a game than anything you’d typically see on a soccer pitch. From taking goal kicks that traveled as far as 80 yards in the air, to winning seemingly every challenge in the midfield and defensive third, to relentlessly attacking the goal offensively and attempting shots from all over the field; he did everything for West.

“Aside from right back, he’s played in every position for us this season, which shows that his soccer IQ is extremely high,” said Hanna. “He should be the captain for the team next year, he’ll bring a lot of commitment and knowledge with him into next year.”

Junior Miguel Martinez had a shot deflect off the crossbar and appear to cross the goal line in the 67th minute, however the ref ruled it did not. Lopez had six near-chances of his own after that, culminating in a free kick from the top of the box that he struck into the side of the net in the 79th to cut their deficit to one.

While their efforts shouldn’t be discredited, it was a case of too little too late for the Trojans, and the game would end 3-2 in favor of Science Hill.

West ends the season 8-8, having earned their first Region 1-AAA Tournament berth since realignment in 2020 . Cole Grimaldi, Braden Melling and Luke Biery end their Trojans career as District 2-AAA Champions. Dylan Lopez ends his junior year as District Co-Player of the Year, and enters his senior season as the captain of his team.