Carmine Cambereri had to make a gut-wrenching decision earlier this season for Cliffside Park soccer. His starting goalkeeper from the year before, senior Eric Estrada, missed summer training and some preseason practices due to family issues. Even when Estrada was back, coach Cambereri gave the starting job to another candidate who’d shown up every day. He told Estrada he’d have to wait his turn.
Many seniors would’ve packed it in, but Estrada? No way. “I really love soccer and I really love my team,” he said. “I just had to be patient to wait for my chance.” And wait he did. Most of the year, he was a substitute. He even started against Ramsey in the Bergen County Tournament’s second round, helping to hold them to a 1-1 tie in regulation, but he was pulled before the shootout.
“It shows what kind of character he has.”
Estrada’s patience was tested, but he never wavered. “It shows what kind of character he has,” a proud Cambereri said. “He could have quit, but he never complained about it. He wanted to be part of the team, he worked hard in practice, cheered for his teammates and waited for his turn to come.” Cliffside Park shared the Big North American title, but Estrada’s big moment was still out there.
Two Unbelievable Performances
Then the state tournament hit, and Estrada finally got his shot to start again. Talk about delivering! He put up back-to-back sterling efforts, kicking the 14th-seeded Red Raiders to an unlikely berth in the North 2, Group 3 sectionals. His patience earned him honors as the North Jersey Male Athlete of the Week, presented by HSS. Against third-seeded Cranford, Estrada made two great saves as the Red Raiders were protecting a one-goal lead, ultimately winning 4-2. Three days later, facing sixth-seeded North Plainfield, he kept a clean sheet, making 10 saves as Cliffside Park battled through regulation and overtime to a scoreless tie.
The game went to a penalty kick shootout, and Estrada pulled off two clutch saves. He made the first one in the final regulation round where a failure to stop the kick would have meant instant defeat! The second save led to the game-winning goal scored by Jhaddyel Almonte seconds later. “His leadership, determination and ability to rise to the occasion in the biggest moments have been nothing short of exceptional. His performances gave our team confidence and played a major role in our tournament success,” Cambereri said.
“It was pretty hard for me at times and sometimes quitting would cross my mind,” Estrada admitted, he started as a goalie because he wasn’t a good field player. But he stayed ready. Estrada remembered that North Plainfield game perfectly: “I knew if I didn’t make the save in the penalty shootout, we were gone.” He guessed right, made the save, and the crowd went wild. Then Almonte scored, and it was pure pandemonium. “My teammates mobbed both of us. Then hugged me, and we were so proud of each other.” What a moment!
Estrada is likely to attend trade school next year, hoping to become a mechanic like his father. But he’ll still look for a club team to continue playing. Patience, man. It paid off for Estrada and for Cliffside Park. What a run!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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