Here were the biggest upsets, surprises and statement wins through Tuesday’s first round of the 2024 NJSIAA boys soccer state tournament: North 1, Group 1 Cresskill springs upset for second year in a row For the second time in as many years, Cresskill traveled up to Sussex County to take on Wallkill Valley as a double-digit seed and for the second time in as many years, Cresskill left Hamburg with a state tournament win. Last year, the Cougars advanced via shootout as the No. 11 seed.
This year, coach Joe Sussman’s group got the job done in regulation with a 2-0 win behind goals from Alon Monhite Yahave and Tyler Manarang while Angelo Cristiantiello made four saves in the shutout. Lenape Valley reverses fortune, pulls upset of its own After getting upset in the first round of last year’s North 1, Group 2 tournament as the No. 5 seed by No.
12 seed Mahwah, the move down to Group 1 proved kind to the Patriots. Taking on fellow NJAC foe and fourth-seeded Pequannock, 13th-seeded Lenape Valley advanced via shootout after Jakob Velasco scored his team’s only goal 1:45 into the game. Lenape Valley now travels to Bergen County to take on 12th-seeded Cresskill in the quarterfinals.
North 1, Group 2 Second half goals give West Milford big win For the fourth time this season, West Milford beat Lakeland by one goal, 2-1, but this was the most important win of the bunch as fourth-seeded West Milford won its first postseason game in over 15 years. The key for the Highlanders were t.
