Columbus cashes in on opportunities, beats Bayside in boys’ soccer second round
The Columbus boys’ soccer team has never gone undefeated and certainly has never entered the PSAL Class A playoffs as a No. 1 seed. So, the Explorers were a bit tight in the first round Monday against No. 8 Newcomers. They went to overtime before Stephen Furze scored the golden goal to give his team the win.
Furze and his teammates were determined not to let the same thing happen again. With a strong defense, the Explorers know if they’re able to finish and put the ball in the net they could make a long run in the postseason. Coach Jason Renick told them as much leading into his team’s second-round match-up with Bayside.
Columbus made the most of what it was given against a solid, fifth-seeded Bayside squad in a 2-0 win Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx. Furze scored twice on assists from Peter Fairman and Alhoussain Bah.
As the only No. 1 seed to not get a first-round bye, the Explorers think they’re still being marginalized despite finishing 10-0-2 in tough Bronx A. Aside from finishing chances, priority No. 1 for Columbus was shutting down Bayside’s Jorge Ruiz Echeverri, a dynamic force up front. Lehman coach Pat Straw said Echeverri’s goal in the first round against his team was one of the best finishes he’s ever seen in 10 years coaching the Lions.
The Explorers did a good job locking the senior up. And when he did a make a scintillating play – a free kick pass to Hernan Benavides with the defense asleep – goalkeeper Besim Berisha was there to make the jumping save in the 63rd minute.
Columbus might have been a bit off in the first round, but its sharpness is back. The Explorers don’t think they’re done yet. And Corrado agrees.
