Boys Soccer: No. 2 Delbarton continues dynasty, passes Madison for MCT 3peat

It may be a safe conclusion to reach that Delbarton forward Owen Miller has the key gene.

The Green Wave junior has only scored two hat tricks in his career. However, the setting was the same: the final of the Morris County tournament.

Miller, who had a hat trick once again, edged out top-seeded, No. 2 Delbarton. New Jersey.com Top 20: Recorded a 5-1 victory over second-seeded and previously undefeated Madison in the Morris County final at Roxbury High School.

The title is the 15th overall and the ninth in the last twelve years for the Green Wave, who are now 16-0-1 and continued their Morris County dynasty in a big way. Liam McElderry, who scored two goals, including Delbarton’s first, was named tournament MVP. Miller took home that award last year.

After leading only 1-0 at the half in a very difficult and close game, Delbarton came out of the half and scored three goals in 10 minutes to ice the score immediately.

“When Liam and Owen combine, they can be really explosive,” said longtime Delbarton coach David Donovan. “All year long, they’ve been creative in creating opportunities and if they combine, we can be a pretty tough team to play against.”

Just 90 seconds into the second half, Miller took advantage of a scramble in the box, turned to his left foot and fired into the right corner to double the lead to 2-0 in an instant.

Just over four minutes later, Miller took a throw-in on the right flank, dribbled into the box, shot low at the near post and scored his second goal, effectively ending the game’s outcome right there.

Delbarton would continue to apply heavy pressure, and Miller would then possess after a scramble in the box, move towards the baseline and connect with a McElderry that crashed into the net for a fourth goal within 10 minutes of the restart.

“We talked at halftime about needing more goals to be comfortable and the ball started moving more,” Miller said. “Liam is a great finisher if he gets the ball and that happened tonight.”

Madison scored its only goal in improbable fashion on the restart, when Santiago Hernández received a pass from Matthew Muñoz and launched a ball more than 60 yards directly into the back of the net when he noticed that Delbarton goalkeeper Sebastián Rubio was out of bounds. your line.

The Dodgers had won their first 16 games of the season and were seeking their first county crown since 2009.

The Green Wave’s fifth and final goal could have easily been a hat trick for McElderry. He passed a defender with a dribble, shot with his left foot and the saved shot crashed into the far post.

But Miller was there waiting for him and scored his second consecutive hat-trick in a county final to close the scoring.

For Delbarton, this first major championship of the season marks what they hope will be a successful few weeks in the Non-Public A tournament.

“Every year is a challenge with a lot of great teams, and now we have St. Benedict’s as well,” Donovan said. “We will be challenged at every turn, but I like this team and our opportunities.”

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