FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ — Northern Highlands drew the hardest assignment in Bergen County on Saturday — top-seeded, unbeaten Bergen Catholic in the county quarterfinals — and the Highlanders battled it to the final whistle before falling 3-1 at Ramapo High School. There is no shame in this scoreline: for the second time this season, Northern Highlands finished within two goals of the county's most explosive team.
A FIGHT TO THE FINISH
Bergen Catholic's hat-trick hero built the lead, but Northern Highlands never folded. With about 11 minutes remaining, the Highlanders earned their moment: Will Raman stepped up and converted a penalty kick to put his team on the board and make the final minutes interesting. Scoring late against a defense protecting a tournament lead takes nerve, and Raman delivered it.
Context makes the effort shine even brighter. Bergen Catholic averages 4.43 goals per game, the best attack in the county, yet Northern Highlands held the margin to two — the same margin as the teams' earlier meeting this season. Staying that competitive, twice, against a 12-0-2 team is proof of a program that defends with discipline and believes it belongs on this stage.
A county quarterfinal run is a season to remember, and the Highlanders made theirs with fight. Teams that push the top seed to the end in October are the teams nobody wants to draw next October — Northern Highlands has announced itself as exactly that kind of program.
Game details compiled from published box scores.