FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — Some quarterfinal wins are about goals. Tenafly's was about a goalkeeper. Senior Jason Baer made 14 saves on Saturday as No. 6 seed Tenafly blanked No. 3 Don Bosco 1-0 in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals at Ramapo High School, backstopping an improbable run that keeps defying every obstacle this team meets.
ONE GOAL, FOURTEEN SAVES
The game's only goal came about 10 minutes into the second half. Senior forward Matthew Seigerman collected a pass from Diego Aldeco Ortiz down the left side and rolled a shot inside the near post — his team-leading ninth goal of the season. From there, Baer did the rest, saving everything Don Bosco sent his way while organizing a defense that has been rebuilt again and again this fall.
Consider what Tenafly has overcome: most of last year's semifinal lineup graduated, injuries have piled up all season, and this week the Tigers lost starting center back Evan Kim to a concussion. Their answer has been depth and belief. The Tigers have now won eight straight matches while allowing only three goals in that stretch, improving to 10-2-1 after opening the season 2-2-1.
Next up is a semifinal against Ridgewood, and Tenafly will bring the county's hottest defense with it. When a team wins eight in a row behind a goalkeeper playing like this, higher seeds stop mattering — the Tigers are nobody's underdog anymore.
Game details compiled from published box scores.