Contributed by Steven Torres
Hosts New York Cosmos B eliminated the defending NPSL (National Premier Soccer League) Champion, Elm City Express of Conn., after a hard-fought 4:2 overtime victory, during North Atlantic Conference Semifinal Playoff on Wednesday evening at Hofstra University Soccer Stadium in Hempstead, N.Y.
Elm City, which captured its 1st NPSL title during its inaugural year in 2017, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a goal from midfielder Tyler Carlos.
Cosmos B answered with back-to-back tallies from Montenegro forward Bledi Bardic in the 29th & 40th minutes, respectively, to take a 2:1 lead.
Just before halftime, Carlos scored his second goal of the match for Elm City to even it a 2:2.
In the 49th minute-mark, Cosmos B lost goal scorer Bardic due to a leg injury and was replaced by midfielder Travis Pittman.
Both teams searched for the game-winner during the remaining time of regulation, however the encounter went to two 15-minute overtime (OT) periods.
In the second OT, goals from forwards Wojciech Wojcik and Zaire Bartley in a two-minute span (110th & 112th) gave Cosmos B the victory and a berth into NPSL’s North Atlantic Conference Final on Saturday.
Saturday’s encounter will have #1 seeded, Cosmos B hosting (#2) Brooklyn Italians at Rocco B. Commisso Stadium at Columbia University at 7:30 pm ET. Brooklyn is coming off a 3:0 blanking of (#3) Hartford City FC 3:0 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.
If Cosmos B win on Saturday, the New York side will return to Hofstra University to host the Northeast Region Semifinal next Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30 pm ET.
NPSL’s North Atlantic Conference Semifinal
07.11.2018: Hempstead, N.Y.; Hofstra University Soccer Stadium (A: 210)
NEW YORK COSMOS B – ELM CITY EXPRESS 4:2 (2:2), OT
Bljedi BARDIC 29’, 40’; Wojciech WOJCIK 110’; Zaire BARTLEY 112’ - Tyler CARLOS 14’, 45’
Written by Steven Torres