Time after time after time the shots that Elizabeth took towards the Union goal on Saturday night in the Union County Tournament final failed to meet their mark.
Some of them were saved, some were shot too wide and more than a few sailed through the football uprights that rose up behind the Union net.
But the Minutemen never got frustrated or upset with each other or down on themselves, they knew a goal was coming. And eventually it did, but it took longer than 80 minutes of regulation to get it.
In the 86th minute Steven Zuniga took a pass from Cesar Larios and sent a shot across the Union goal and into the lower right corner to give second-seeded Elizabeth the 1-0 victory over top-seeded Union for their first Union County Tournament title since 2019.
“It felt amazing, I think it’s more about the fact that everybody that was watching is happy, so that makes it even better, makes the goal even more special,” Zuniga said of scoring the game-winner.
For Elizabeth, which was playing in its second-straight county final, it was the first title since 2019 when the Minutemen finished as co-champions with Westfield. Last year they lost to the Blue Devils 1-0.
Union, which is ranked No. 13 in the NJ.com Top 20, was looking for its first county title since 2018 when it also finished as co-champions with Westfield.
“I feel like we were winning balls in the air, we were winning headers, but I feel like we wanted it more than them, today we wanted it more,” Elizabeth’s Justin Cedeno said. “I just feel like together we’re stronger than individually, we’re the strongest when we’re together and I think it showed today.”
Saturday night’s game was the second time that these two Union County Conference Watchung Division opponents have met this season. Back on Sept. 21 the Farmers stunned then-No. 16 Elizabeth 1-0.
“From the beginning I knew it was going to be a hard game, but I knew we were going to be dominant because last time we played them it was a whole different type of game than what it was now,” Zuniga said. “All of our players are in great shape now so I think that was the key factor back then, we lost because not everyone was at the same level and now everybody is connected and sharing the same mindset.”
Zuniga also credited his teammates for not allowing Union to get a lot of chances on set pieces, which was how the Farmers won the first matchup against the Minutemen. On Saturday night, both teams took four corners but neither side was able to capitalize.
“I thought it was being smart and not giving dumb fouls because we knew they weren’t going to be that dangerous without set pieces,” he said. “So if we didn’t give them set pieces we knew our defense was going to do great.”
Elizabeth came out firing in the first half and pressured the Union defense from start to finish, outshooting the Famers 14-6. But Union stood tall and withstood a barrage of shots throughout the game, but ultimately it was the Minutemen who were finally able to hammer one home.
For Elizabeth, Andrew Gonzalez made four saves for the Minutemen’s 10th shutout of the season and fifth win in a row. Kayden Grave made nine stops for Union as the Farmers snapped a three-game win streak.
“We always knew that we could beat Union because last time we played them we were dominant the whole game and they scored off one set piece,” Cedeno said. “They’re fighters but we’re also fighters and we knew that everyone was doubting us this season, but we all believed in God, we all believed in each other and we fought until the end and it was amazing. We’re a family and family wins everything, always.”
