By Dylan Butler
After running himself ragged between coaching the Under-16 Albertson Red Storm Clash in the United States Youth Soccer Association nationals in Maryland and a pair of critical New York Freedoms games in New England this weekend, David Price wasn’t exactly sure where he was on Monday.
And while his head was spinning from hundreds of miles on the road and countless hours of coaching, the one thing Price knew after the grueling stretch was that the Freedoms, after beating the Western Mass Pioneers Friday and tying New Hampshire Saturday, had clinched a playoff berth in the United Soccer League’s Pro-Select League.
“It was a full week, a very eventful week,” an exhausted Price said. “But overall I’m pretty happy.”
After a slow start the Freedoms (8-5-6) have lost just once in their last 14 games, and heading into Saturday’s regular season finale at Westchester, they have clinched their second straight playoff berth.
The Freedoms will face arch-rival Long Island, the Atlantic Division champion, the weekend of Aug. 16-17. Last year the Rough Riders beat the Freedoms in penalty kicks en route to winning the Pro-Select League national championship.
The two teams met July 16 at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, where the Freedoms won 3-2 in overtime.
“We’re a lot more confident than we were last year,” Price said. “We went into last year’s playoff game not as fit as the Rough Riders. Beating the Rough Riders two weeks ago at their place gives us a lot of confidence and belief that we can go on and beat them again.
“They’ll be a lot more wary of us now than last year,” Price added.
Price, who coached the Red Storm Clash to a national championship game (a 2-0 loss to Southern California United), flew into Hartford and joined the Freedoms in Ludlow, Mass. Friday night.
Despite having the better of play and the best scoring opportunities, the Freedoms found themselves trailing 1-0 after Mark Manganello’s 28th-minute strike.
After nearly an hour and a half of frustration, the Freedoms tied the game at 1 when Rocky Bojovic followed Julio Cesar Dos Santos’ cross from the far post and scored off a scramble at the six-yard box.
Substitute Paul Roderick, who came on in the 83rd minute, ended the game deep into the second overtime period with a trademark highlight reel goal in the 107th minute.
“Paul will always score the great goals, and we’ve been waiting for that all season. He played very well,” Price said. “Rocky will always get those ugly, scrappy goals in front of the net.”
The Freedoms trekked further north to take on the New Hampshire Phantoms Saturday night. Despite feeling the effects of its second game in as many days, the team played to a scoreless tie and, coupled with a New Jersey Stallions loss, clinched the playoff berth.
“We played very well but without the tempo in New Hampshire,” Price said. “We made some early subs, and led by center backs Frank Vertullo and Kevin Daly the guys dug it out defensively.”
Higgins leads Rough Riders past Stallions. Although he plays for the Freedoms’ biggest rivals, Shaun Higgins may get a thank you call from Price and co. this week after the Whitestone native’s two goals led Long Island past New Jersey, 2-1, Saturday night at Stony Brook University, helping the Freedoms clinch a playoff berth.
The former Holy Cross standout scored the first of his two goals in the 55th minute, beating Stallions keeper Christian Sir from 15 yards out to tie the game at 1.
Higgins then netted the game-winner — his fourth goal in two games — in the 74th minute, heading in Daniel Leon’s deflected free kick.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
