Aidan Ackerman was in the right place at the right time, and his game-winner punched West Orange’s ticket to the state finals.

The sophomore scored on a header off a corner kick by Marcus Williams in the 61st minute as West Orange, ranked No. 2 in the NJ.com Top 20, defeated No. 9 Scotch Plains-Fanwood 1-0 in the NJSIAA Group 4 semifinals on Tuesday night at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

“That play, that’s not usually how it’s run but I was fortunate enough to be in the right spot at the right time, and I just buried it and I’m very thankful for that,” Ackerman said. “It’s an awesome feeling. I love that we’re playing in states, I get to play one more game with my family, my brothers, it’s an amazing feeling.”

The Mountaineers, the North 1, Group 4 champion, advanced to the Group 4

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