ORADELL - Ryan O'Byrne gave a thumbs up and a simple message on his way to the ambulance.

"Get this W for me."

The Don Bosco captain wasn't around to see the final buzzer, but he got his wish on Sunday afternoon. An inspired team of Ironmen rallied for a 4-1 win over rival Bergen Catholic after losing their senior leader.

Several players went over to O'Byrne at the half as he was taken off in a stretcher. He had his right leg wrapped up after being involved in a hard challenge.

"That's our captain," goalie Joey Battaglia said. "This is for him."

Don Bosco hopes that a win like this can be a turning point in the rivalry. The Ironmen came into the day with just one win in their last eight matchups with Bergen Catholic. It seemed like a daunting task to open the season in Oradell against the defending Bergen County champions.


Instead, the Ironmen came out firing with a pair of early goals by Nino Carramusa. Don Bosco extended the lead after the break with goals from Massimo Rodio and Armando Santana.

"We can battle," coach Vincent Sileo said. "Although Bergen tries to play, they've always been a physical side. This year, we can match that. I think the result was the way it was because we matched up. I think we deserved it."

Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco played their match at Bergen Catholic in Oradell on October 4, 2020. Brian Maron #14 and Armando Santana #7 chase down the ball.

What it means
Don Bosco has the early edge in the Big North United and will get a bump in the rankings. The Ironmen came into the season ranked fifth, while Bergen Catholic was second.

One of the best signs for Don Bosco was that it shut out the Crusaders in the run of play. The Ironmen have four new starters on defense with Adam Sujak and Rich Malysa in the middle and Michael Danzi and Ryan Martinelli on the outside. There is experience in goal, though, and Battaglia answered the call. 


"When the schedule comes out and your No. 1 rival is put there, it just brought a different kind of intensity to the group," said Sileo, who graduated seven starters and more than a dozen seniors.

"There was a big circle on the calendar for this match."

The Ironmen chanted "O'Byrne" after breaking the postgame huddle. Sileo did not have an injury update, but planned to call the midfielder's parents. 

"Ryan O'Byrne is one of the best players in the state of New Jersey," Sileo said. 

"It was a really tough challenge and Ryan ended up on the wrong side of it. But that happens sometimes in big, physical games like this. I'm very, very upset and I hope he gets a prognosis that we want."

Bergen Catholic and Don Bosco played their match at Bergen Catholic in Oradell on October 4, 2020. Ryan O'Byrne #6 and Gavin Sapontzis #10.

Key plays
Carramusa started the scoring for Don Bosco when he headed in a goal in the 12th minute. Senior Jordan Banfield had the ball near the left sideline and found Carramusa sliding in between the centerbacks.

"He looked up and I just ran toward the goal," Carramusa said. "He crossed it and I scored. I just felt really happy. I saw my team rushing toward me and it was a good feeling."

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The next two goals both came on a penalty kick: One from Carramusa in the 37th minute and one from Rodio after the break. 

Jake Sweeney put Bergen Catholic on the board in the 63rd minute, but that was all that got past Battaglia.

"My adrenaline is still pumping right now," Battaglia said. "I'm so hyped."

Up next
?Don Bosco hosts Paramus Catholic on Tuesday.

?Bergen Catholic heads to DePaul on Tuesday. 

Last words
"I applaud coach Peter (Berkanish) and the BC boys for always providing a great effort," Sileo said. "But I'm super proud of our boys and how they were able to execute the gameplan. As the game went on, we changed some tactics and worked on some defending."
