HAMILTON – Conference and state tournament runs are usually defined by stellar defense and memorable, heroic plays. The 3rd-seeded Steinert boys’ soccer team got both on Monday in a 2-1 win over 6th-seeded Lawrence in a Colonial Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal. The Spartans (13-2-3) play 2nd-seeded Princeton in Thursday’s 5 p.m. semifinal at Hopewell Valley. They might want to ride bicycles there to honor Monday’s hero. Lawrence (9-8-2) got what could have been a huge momentum-changing goal from Hector Tonorio Perez to tie it with eight minutes left. But the Spartans responded with what will go down as one of the top clutch highlight goals in Steinert’s hallowed history considering when and how it was scored. Center-back Elliot Morris delivered a free kick from well past the 18 that took a high bounce in the box. To the amazement of everyone – everyone who saw it, that is – Chris Vega, with his back to the goal, delivered a bicycle kick just under the crossbar for the game-winner with five minutes left. It came so fast and so uniquely, onlookers around the field wanted to know what happened. When informed, they couldn’t believe it, but Morris felt it was no big thing. “That’s how we planned it,” he said with a mischievous grin. “Yeah, exactly how we drew it up,” deadpanned coach Anthony Tessein. Actually, it was not that far fetched according to Tessein. “Chris does that in practice just about every day,” he said. “It’s not that surprising that he tried it. It’s just a big spot and kind of audacious.” WATCH: Chris Vega’s bicycle kick goal wins it for Steinert (via Jersey Sports Zone) This was Vega’s first goal at any level using the bicycle, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. “I’ve been trying that bike a couple of games and this is the game I got it,” he said. “I had a bike go off the crossbar at Hightstown Thursday. “I just saw the ball go over somebody and I knew I had my chance, nobody was on me. It was right on top of me. I knew I had a clear shot and I was right on top of it.” Cardinals coach Jeff Molinelli was as surprised as everyone else. “We can’t let a restart bounce,” he said. “It bounced and the kid made an unbelievable bicycle. What are you gonna do? If you told me we were gonna lose on a bicycle I’d tell you you’re nuts.” The goal stunned Lawrence, just as Perez stunned Steinert three minutes earlier. The Spartans went ahead in the 12th minute when midfielder Brayden Quinn centered a ball to Matt Tafrow, who converted to make it 1-0. “Sam Narkum held up the ball for us and played it across to me,” Quinn said. “I put a head on it and Matty had a great chest down to his foot and finished it in the bottom quarter.” From there Steinert’s bruising defense made it tough for Lawrence to do much, although they did have two crosses go off the crossbar and had a goal wiped out by a handball in the first half. Neither team did a lot for the first 30 minutes of the second half. Platon Trofimchuk sent two crosses in front for Lawrence but Morris, Jake Reilly and Ryan Checkowski were always there. “Our back line is so strong,” Quinn said. “We get that one goal and think we can shut them out. We have a strong back line, nobody can do anything against them. We don’t let up goals.” That line is helped by the midfielders, who do their share “It’s something we practice a lot, shifting, being where we’re supposed to be,” Quinn said. “Our coach stresses being where you’re supposed to be in the midfield defending.” It’s apparent, as Steinert entered the game having allowed just nine goals and posting 11 shutouts. But they would not get a 12th, as Perez lofted a shot from about 25 yards out that snuck under the crossbar to tie it. “Chris’s goal is going to overshadow that goal by (Perez),” Tessein said. “That was a fantastic goal. A goal like that can be very deflating. We’re very close to the end of the game. Then Chris returns with an even crazier goal and that really shifts the momentum at a critical time where we weren’t looking so hot. It was big.” It gave Steinert its 12th straight win against Lawrence dating back to 2017, and almost every one has been by one goal. “Beating them is something we’ve been trying to figure out the last couple of years,” Molinelli said. “I thought we had a good game plan today, switching the field. I thought we had some chances, we’ve gotta shoot a little more. Credit to them, they did a good job. “And with their defense, credit to Tessein with what they do. Their kids are always in good position. Those outside wingers get back and they basically have five backs and they make it  tough.” They also make games close and sometimes ugly, but that’s what is needed to advance in tournaments. As the games get bigger, so does the defense’s importance. And Steinert seems to be right at home in close games as seven of their last nine outcomes have been decided by one goal. “We’re just a hard-working team, we never give up,” Vega said. “We’ve been there before, we don’t give up a ton of goals,” Tessein said. “We know how to be in those spots now. It’s the comfort zone. It doesn’t make me very comfortable. But they seem to embrace it and I’ve just got great defenders. I just can’t say enough about them.” Just as Quinn couldn’t say enough about Vega’s goal. “Unbelievable,” he said. “Crazy finish. It’s insane.” Lawrence (9-8-2) 0 1 – 1 Steinert (13-2-3) 1 1 – 2 G: L-Perez. S-M. Tafrow, Vega. A: S-Quinn, Morris. Shots: L-5. S-12. Saves: L-Dowd 5. S-Chaykovskyy 4.