Mullarkey's Monster Day Can't Save Lions Boys' Soccer

By making big save after big save, Cherry Hill West senior goalie Sean Mullarkey kept his team in its first round playoff match with Washington Township.

His performance kept the game scoreless through 80 minutes and eventually 100 minutes. By refusing to let the ball by him time and time again, Mullarkey gave his teammates a chance to steal a win in penalty kicks.

Unfortunately for the No. 15 Lions, those penalty kicks didn’t treat them well, and the result was a 0-0 (3-0) loss to No. 2 Washington Township in the opening round of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 4 playoffs.

The Minutemen advance to the quarterfinals, while West's season comes to a close in a valiant, if fruitless effort.

“I don’t think you could have asked for anything more than the effort we got from our guys,” said West coach Dan Butler. “I felt we played a high-quality game with great defense and great goaltending. That has been the story of the year.

"Our defense is exceptional, our goalkeeper has been exceptional and that has paved the way for us to not only be competitive, but also extremely successful.”

West went toe-to-toe with the Washington Township for a good portion of the first half, but saw the Minutemen control possession and create the vast majority of the scoring chances over the final 60 minutes of the contest.

With 26 minutes, 27 seconds left in the second half, Mullarkey somehow saw a shot through a bevy of defenders and dove to his right to stop a shot from Township’s Vince Guzzo. With just over one minute left in regulation, he challenged a shot by Eric Jordan, sliding to make a big save. With about 30 seconds left, Mullarkey was nearly beat, but a pair of defenders cleared a shot off the goal line to send the game into overtime.

The senior keeper made two more big saves in overtime before penalty kicks finally got the best of him and his teammates.

Showing signs of true leadership, Mullarkey—who finished with 20 saves—deflected any praise heaped his way on to his teammates.

“It was all my defense,” Mullarkey said. “I have the best back four in South Jersey by far. Some of the plays they made this day were unbelievable.

“(Sweeper) Connor McFadden had a great game and so did our outside backs. I just tried to keep our team in it.”

He certainly did that much.

“He’s been playing with a confidence that is beyond belief,” said Butler. “He has great skills, great hands and is just an exceptional athlete. He has kept us in games before making big saves and that held true again today. He was on top of his game.”

The Lions (10-4-3) were able to create a couple of quality scoring chances in the second overtime, with forward Chris Blandy producing a quality shot that was saved two minutes into the second session. All game it seemed like the Lions were happy to stay tight on defense and in the midfield with hopes that it would take advantage with a counter attack. The result just never came.

“That’s how we beat Cherokee,” said Mullarkey. “We had a couple lucky breaks. We are a skilled team, but against this kind of competition, it’s tough. We had a great year with an unbelievable senior class. It was a pleasure playing with all of them.”

The game was a demonstration of just how loaded the Group 4 playoffs always are, with any seed capable of making a long run.

“Our last loss came on October 5 to Washington Township and we have been on a great streak since then,” Butler said. “We have been playing great team soccer, possession the ball and creating opportunities. I don’t think anything changed today.

"We took them to the unfortunate aspect of the game—PKs—and got a little unlucky. Give their keeper credit for making some key saves, but we can keep our heads held high and just congratulate Washington Township for a game well played.”