Cate overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit in a hostile environment and defeated Don Bosco Tech 2-1 in a CIF Division 7 boys soccer quarterfinal match Thursday in Rosemead.
Ema Boateng scored the tying goal in the 43rd minute and Jeffrey Acheampong delivered the game-winner in the 60th minute.
The Rams, 17-1-1 and the division’s defending champions, advance to the semifinals on Tuesday against Paraclete, a 3-1 winner over Academy for Academic Excellence.
“It was 85 degrees, but the ambient temperature was nothing compared to the heat of the fans situated behind our bench,” Cate coach Dave Mochel said “Their entire school filled the bleachers and produced a constant barrage of comments directed as the Rams.”
Cate had several chances to take the crowd out of the game, but the Rams were unable to convert. Don Bosco got its crowd going when it took a 1-0 lead with a shot that hit the bottom of the crossbar and bounced just over the goal line.
Don Bosco took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
Mochel said his team captains stepped forward at halftime and prodded their teammates to play better in the second half.
“Captains Avery Schwartz, Ema Boateng, and Joshua Yaro encouraged their teammates to play aggressively on 50-50 balls, to remain patient on offense, and the result would take care of itself,” Mochel said.
Three minutes into the second half, the Rams scored the equalizer. Sophomore Shuta Kobayashi dropped the ball back to Boateng who ripped a shot from the left side of the goal about 15 yards out. The goal stunned the Tigers, and Cate took control of the match.
The game-winner came in the 60th minute when Schwartz took a free kick from just outside the left upper corner of the penalty area and placed it perfectly on the head of freshman Acheampong who nodded it in for a 2-1 lead.
Mochel praised the efforts of midfielders Tyler Douglas, Justin Kim, Iman Fardghassemi and Daniel Rodriguez, as well as the defense of Yaro, Matthew Firestone, Patrick Thomas, and Leighton Brillo-Sonnino, and forward Abhay Singh.
In the other quarterfinal matches, University Prep edged Thacher 1-0 and Mary Star of the Sea beat Lennox Math/Science Tech 1-0.
