RAMSEY – There was a hint of irony when Ramsey's Nicolas Quintero stepped to the line for a mano a mano battle with the keeper.
His team was locked in another intense game with Ramapo in their first meeting since sharing the Bergen County championship last October.
But this time, a penalty kick would decide the winner. And Quintero wanted the game on his right foot after Ramapo was called for a handball with just over 11 minutes left.
"I picked the ball up and I'm like, this is my time," Quintero said. "I like that pressure. I like hearing the fans. I like everything about it."
The senior forward liked the final result, too.
Quintero drilled a shot to the top right corner to help No. 1 Ramsey come back to beat No. 5 Ramapo, 2-1, on Thursday night. Down a goal after an uneven first half, the Rams took control when it mattered most to extend their unbeaten streak to 26 games.
The pressure they applied on corners and on long throws from Adrian Stancescu convinced the Ramsey bench that it was only a matter of time before a breakthrough arrived.
"I think it was a great learning experience for our guys because these are the kind of games you see in the county tournament or the state tournament," Ramsey coach Cesar Blacido said. "You want to do all the right things to make the game of soccer look good. But at the end of the day, sometimes you got to be tough. You have to have high energy and intensity. I think they realized that. They know they need to do that, but what does that actually look like? It's something that this game taught them."
What it means
No, this was not your ordinary crossover game in early September. This was Ramsey's first major test since finishing as unbeaten, Triple Crown winners in the 2023 season.
If there was any notion that the Rams would come back to Earth after an other-worldly season, beating a team that's won three straight county titles was the perfect antidote. Holding the Ramapo offense in check was an encouring sign for a defense that lost two of its three starters, including Boys Soccer Player of the Year Patrick Weir.
"It's definitely a lot of pressure," senior centerback Dan Capuano said. "It's big shoes to fill. But at the end of the day, we're not going to fill them. We have to make our own name for ourselves and our own legacy. I feel like so far, we've done a good job on that."
Inside the match
Ramsey (2-0) found itself in an unusual position after conceding the first goal less than eight minutes in. On a free kick from the right side, Caden O'Connell managed to deflect the ball toward the far post to catch the Ramsey keeper flat-footed.
"Most other teams sit back and wait for what we do," Quintero said. "This team presses high and they make us make a mistake and they know what they want."
Ramapo clawed back in the 56th minute after a great defensive play by Capuano, who was noticeable all game long for his height on set pieces and assertiveness in the back. Capuano warded off two Ramapo players to regain possession and a nice buildup by his teammates moments later led to one of four Ramsey corners in the second half. After a couple bounces near the goal, Owen Morycz swooped in and ripped his first varsity goal to even the score at one.
Quintero followed it up with the only other goal his team would need.
"We had them bookmarked since last year," Capuano said. "We knew we had unfinished business with them and as soon as we saw the schedule come out this year, we knew that would be a circled matchup."
The matchup on Thursday night turned into a family affair for Capuano and his twin brother/midfielder Joe. Their father Nick is a Ramapo alum and their grandfather once coached softball at the Franklin Lakes school.
Next up
Ramapo (1-2) will take on division rival Northern Highlands on Monday in Allendale.
Ramsey will welcome in another top-10 opponent on Monday when it faces Tenafly.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Ramsey boys soccer comes back to beat Ramapo in the first meeting since championship tie
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