First Time is the Sweetest: Dodgers Beat Delbarton to Make MCT Final

With less than half a minute to play in the game, Madison's last chance to regain a lead over Delbarton was rolling out of bounds with the ball when Billy Battaglia frantically chased it down and swept it back to Austen Lein, who charged across the field and scored with three seconds remaining, propelling the Dodgers into the Morris County finals with their 6-5 win over the Green Wave.

"I was thinking just swipe it back," said Battaglia.

It was the first time Madison had ever defeated Delbarton, and the second time the Dodgers have earned a spot in the county finals. Delbarton was the defending champion of the county tournament and the No. 1 seed–the Green Wave have won 10 county tournaments in their history.

"It was a huge win for us," said Madison head coach Mark Sweeney. "We've only been in the championship one time, but we got blown out, and it's the first time we've ever beaten Delbarton."

Madison held five leads in the game, but Delbarton came back to tie the game four times. The fifth time, the Green Wave did not have time for a comeback.

"I wanted to make sure there was time on the clock," said Lein. "I wasn't sure I got it off on time. I looked at the clock, and there were three seconds left … it was indescribable. It's my senior year, and was my last chance to beat Delbarton, and it felt so good."

Colin McLinden controlled much of the game for Madison, winning a number of face-offs, including one with just over two minutes left to give Madison the final possession they needed to win, assisting two goals, and scoring one goal.

"They're athletes, they play multiple sports, so they've been in big games. They were composed," said Sweeney. "The last couple of games we've been on a roll."

Going into the fourth quarter, Madison held the biggest lead they had held all game, 4-2, but Delbarton tied the game up with an unassisted goal from Clay Haarman with 11:11 left in the game, and then an unassisted goal from Jack Malloy with 8:45 remaining.

But Madison did not allow Delbarton to gain too much momentum, and Will Stuhler scored on a breakaway from midfield for an unassisted goal of his own with under five minutes to play, bringing the Dodgers up 5-4.

After Madison goalie Brett Anton made a tremendous save with less than 2:30 in the game, it appeared that Delbarton might not tie the game up this time, but suddenly Jack Clarke stole the ball on a pass and scored.

If McLinden had not won the face-off that followed, the outcome could have been completely different for the Dodgers – but he did win it, and Battaglia did save the ball from going out, and Lein did find a way to get the ball into the net.

"It was one in a million," said Lein.

The Dodgers will face Kinnelon, who defeated Mountain Lakes in their noon semifinal game at Madison High School that preceded the Madison vs. Delbarton matchup. Kinnelon is one of the three teams that has defeated Madison this season.

"We lost to them 10-8," said Battaglia. "We need revenge."

The Dodgers will seek their revenge and attempt to win their first county championship ever on Tuesday in the Morris County Finals.