8-Dayton at 1-McNair Academic; 5-Lyndhurst at 4-Secaucus; 6-Whippany Park at 3-Glen Ridge; 7-Harrison at 2-New Providence.
FRIENDLY REMINDER: With such a small field, action in this section doesn't kick off until Thursday.
THE TOP SEED: What a year McNair is having. The Miller sisters, sophomore twins Brooke and Brianna and junior sibling Brittany, have played significant roles in the Hudson County team's ascent. Brittany holds down the defense in goal, while Brooke creates scoring chances in the middle and defends with zest and Brianna thrives as a central target up top.
THE FAVORITE: New Providence (18-1) has been the No. 1 team in our Star-Ledger weekly Group 1 rankings from the outset and has done nothing to change that status. Kim Closs and Rachel Schlobohm work well off each other in a powerful offense while the defense owns 13 shutouts. It should be eager to begin its title quest coming off a 1-0 triumph over Cranford this week.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCH: Sixth-seeded Whippany Park (12-5) and third-seeded Glen Ridge (15-3) should be an absolute treat on Thursday. Host Glen Ridge has run off eight straight victories, keyed by a multi-faceted offense that allows Sarah Malone, Mary Alati, Claire Malone, Paige Capovilla, Megan Bagley and anyone else in the attacking third to share in the spotlight. Whippany Park is engineered by senior Kim Mangin in the midfield and gets an offensive spark from Kathryn Karovic and Michele Meggiolaro.
BEST FIRST-ROUND MATCH II: You think Secaucus will need any extra incentive on Thursday? Fifth-seeded Lyndhurst already hung a pair of 2-1 setbacks on Secaucus, the fourth seed, which should have the host in a less than hospitable mood.
Game 20 - November 05, 2009
2009 NJSIAA Tournament
Group 1 - Section 2 North
New Providence 7, Harrison 0
THE STAR-LEDGER
Kim Closs picked up her second hat trick of the season and Connie Haggerty notched her 50th career victory in goal, recording one save, for second-seeded New Providence (19-1) in the quarterfinals of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament in New Providence. Jill Ashinsky relieved Haggerty in goal and stopped two shots as New Providence registered its 14th shutout of the season. Gina Caprara scored twice and Tori Crisafi and Rachel Schlobohm each added a goal. Harrison is 9-6-5.
1st 2nd Final
Harrison (9-6-5) 0 0 0
New Providence (19-1-0) 4 3 7
Goals: New Providence Kim Closs 3. Gina Caprara 2. Tori Crisafi. Rachel Schlobohm.
Assists: New Providence Jenna Fay 2. Rachel Schlobohm 2. Emma Culleton. Alex Schlobohm.
Shots: Harrison 3. New Providence 21.
Saves: Harrison Nicole Cerqueira 12. New Providence Jill Ashinsky 2. Connie Haggerty 1.
THE COURIER NEWS
Senior forward Kim Closs scored three consecutive goals as second-seeded New Providence took a 4-0 lead at the half against seventh-seeded Harrison and rolled into the semifinals.
Senior forward Rachel Schlobohm scored the first goal and assisted on two others, while junior midfielder Gina Caprara added two goals in the victory.
Senior keeper Connie Haggerty stopped one shot to pick up her 50th career victory for the the Pioneers, who will play host to third-seeded Glen Ridge at 2 p.m. Monday.
The Star-Ledger - November 08, 2009
North Jersey, Section 2 Sectional Semis Preview - Group 1
By Gregg Lerner
Dayton (8-9-1) at Secaucus (11-6-3)
Dayton may have squeaked into the tournament as the eighth seed but it justified that berth by stinging top-seeded McNair, 2-1, on Thursday in the quarterfinals. Prior to the McNair match, Dayton only managed to score once in its previous five outings. Emily Stein awakened the attack with both goals versus McNair, including the decisive strike on a 25-yard restart in the 76th minute. Secaucus erased the images of two regular-season losses with its 1-0 victory over
Lyndhurst in the quarterfinals. Cynthia Costello deposited the only score in the 10th minute and keeper Kelsey Snedeker proved she’s ready for the post season by making 14 saves to post the clean sheet.
Glen Ridge (16-3-1) at New Providence (19-1)
This is the one I’m heading to tomorrow and really looking forward to it. New Providence is outstanding in just about every facet. Kim Closs knows how to put a ball away and keeper Connie Haggerty, who has recorded 50 career victories and has been part of 14 shutouts, is equally sharp at keep shots from the back of the net. Glen Ridge has big, physical options in sisters Claire and Sarah Malone. Paige Capovilla puts pressure on a defense while seniors Katya
Dombrowski and Ashley Bramble are immune to pressure as staples of a defensive unit with 10 shutouts to its credit.
Game 21 - November 09, 2009
2009 NJSIAA Tournament
Group 1 - Section 2 North
New Providence 1, Glen Ridge 0
The Star Ledger
While its wealth of speed up front makes New Providence particularly dangerous going to goal, it’s the short, sudden bursts in other areas of the field that are at the root of its greatest rewards.
``You have to win 50-50 balls, but be composed doing it,’’ senior defender Nan Tucker said. ``That is not about skill as much as it is about hustle.’’
Don’t get the wrong impression. New Providence shows an abundance of technical flair playing to feet in an effort to possess and build its offense. And, it doesn’t hesitate to explore the width and spring its perimeter speedsters when afforded the chance.
However, it’s the bridled passion it displayed pursuing a loose ball that gave way to the match’s lone goal and was at the core of a defensive showing that enabled New Providence to outlast Glen Ridge, 1-0, yesterday in the semifinals of the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament in New Providence.
A blink-of-the-eye flash by junior Allison Boyle in the 17th minute forced a hasty collapse by the Glen Ridge defense. Two defenders converged on Boyle, who was chasing a ball at the top of the penalty area, resulting in Boyle drawing a foul and subsequent penalty kick.
Junior Gina Caprara converted the spot kick, ripping a thunderous left foot into the upper right side.
``I was thinking that was a chance to be the only goal of the game,’’ Caprara said. ``It was a little nerve-wracking, but I knew I needed to put it in.’’
Caprara’s goal was all the cushion New Providence needed. Central defender Tucker maintained the back line’s shape and aggressively won balls to help preserve the fifth straight shutout for New Providence (20-1) and 15th overall.
But the clean sheet didn’t come easy.
Pressed to seek an equalizer, Glen Ridge (16-4-1) assertively advanced behind the playmaking of sophomore center midfielder Mary Alati and junior running partner Sarah Malone. It pushed numbers beyond midfield over the final 15 minutes of regulation and created quality chances, including a shot by Malone off an Alati feed in the 63rd minute that sailed just over the crossbar and a 25-yard direct kick from Alati three minutes later that followed a similar path.
`` We gave them a good game,’’ Glen Ridge coach Oscar Viteri said. ``We lost, 2-0, here last year (in the sectional final). We had our chances. It was back and forth and an exciting second half. I couldn’t ask for anything more from my team.’’
New Providence, which received a strong midfield showing from senior Amy Marchiso, made its best bid at an insurance goal in the 58th minute. Freshman Alex Schlobohm played a pass down the right wing to her senior sister Rachel, who cut inside the penalty area and let go a 15-yard blast that Glen Ridge keeper Margaret Provost parried over the top.
1st 2nd Final
Glen Ridge (16-4-1) 0 0 0
New Providence (20-1-0) 1 0 1
Goals: New Providence Gina Caprara.
Saves: Glen Ridge Margaret Provost 6. New Providence Connie Haggerty 3.
The Courier News
Junior Gina Caprara put home a penalty kick midway through the first half, and the New Providence defense made it stand up to earn the second-seeded Pioneers a berth in the sectional final. Senior Kim Closs was tripped in the box at 16:35, and Caprara beat Glen Ridge keeper Margaret Provost high and to the right.
Senior keeper Connie Haggerty made three saves for New Providence to earn the shutout, as the Pioneers outshot the third-seeded Ridgers 10-7, and will play host to fourth-seeded Secaucus in Thursday's final.
Glen Ridges Megan Bagley (6) battles with Amy Marchiso (18) of New Providence.
Rachel Schlobohm (11) of New Providence battles with Ashley Bramble (16) of Glen Ridge.
Amy Marchisio (18) of New Providence and Caroline Thiele (11) of Glen Ridge battle for the ball.
Pictures by William Perlman/The Star-Ledger
Gina Caprara (10) celebrates with Kim Closs after converting penalty kick in New Providence's 1-0 triumph over Glen Ridge.
Gina Caprara converted a penalty kick in the first half and New Providence weathered a late push to outlast Glen Ridge for a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1.
Nan Tucker (20) of New Providence battles with Paige Capovilla (4) of Glen Ridge
Alex Schlobohm (13) of New Providence battles with Claire Malone (3) of Glen Ridge
Courier News - November 11, 2009
Scouting Report - Group 1 Section 2 North
No. 2 seed New Providence (20-1) vs. No. 4 Secaucas (12-6-3)
How they got here: New Providence topped No. 7 Harrison in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Glen Ridge in the semis. Secaucas beat No. 5 Lyndhurst in the quarters and No. 8 Dayton in the semis.
New Providence report
After returning most of last season's sectional championship squad, the Pioneers have dominated their opponents, with their only loss coming 1-0 to Group III powerhouse Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the county semifinals.
New Providence, which features the area's most potent offense (4.6 goals per game), as well as a suffocating defense that has allowed just six goals, is looking for their fourth sectional title since 2003. The key difference between this year's team and last season's is depth, coach Scott Murphy said, and he feels there's no drop off in skill level when he goes to his bench.
Senior forwards Kim Closs (26 goals, 15 assists) and Rachel Schlobohm (26 goals, 10 assists) are first and second in the area in scoring, while center-midfielders Amy Marchisio, a senior, and freshman Alex Schlobohm have also gotten into the act.
Junior outside-mid Gina Caprara has also been a lethal scoring threat, tallying 16 goals. Senior sweeper Nan Tucker leads the defense in front of senior keeper Connie Haggerty, who has posted 15 shutouts, including five in a row.
Secaucas report
The Patriots have doubled their win total of a year ago, going from a 6-10-1 to a 12-6-3. Senior forward Cynthia Costello (25 goals) is the main offensive threat and one of the most experiencedplayers on a team that started five freshmen against Lyndhurst in the quarterfinals.
Costello has scored both game-winning goals in Secaucas' tournament run. Senior Laura Mondadori anchors the defense in front of junior keeper Kelsey Snedeker, who has posted seven shutouts.
Gina Caprara (10) of New Providence battles with Danielle Lisovicz (13) of Glen Ridge
Gina Caprara (10) of New Providence heads the ball as Danielle Lisovicz (13) of Glen Ridge defends
Amy Marchisio (18) of New Providence takes the shot as Mary Alati (23) of Glen Ridge defends
Nicole Saitta (21) of New Providence kicks the ball as Caroline Thiele (11) tries to block it
Gina Caprara (10) of New Providence battles with Claire Malone (3) of Glen Ridge
Rachel Schlobohm (11) of New Providence battles with Ashley Bramble (16) of Glen Ridge
Gina Caprara (10) of New Providence battles with Claire Malone (3) of Glen Ridge
Game 22 - November 12, 2009
Sectional Finals
New Providence 4, Secaucus 0
The Star Ledger
Kim Closs provided two goals and Alex Schlobohm added a goal and an assist as second-seeded New Providence secured its second straight North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 championship over fourth-seeded Secaucus in New Providence.
New Providence (21-1) earned its fifth sectional title, all since 2000, and will face the North Jersey, Section 1 champion, Cresskill, in the Group 1 state semifinals on Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Ridge. Secaucus ends 12-7-3.
1st 2nd Final
Secaucus (12-7-3) 0 0 0
New Providence (21-1-0) 3 1 4
Goals: New Providence Kim Closs 2. Amy Marchisio. Alex Schlobohm.
Assists: New Providence Gina Caprara. Jenna Fay. Alex Schlobohm. Rachel Schlobohm.
Shots: New Providence 29.
Saves: Secaucus Kelsey Snedeker 21.
The Independent Press
New Providence Girls Claim State Section Soccer Crown
By Art Polakowski
The New Providence High School girls soccer team successfully defended its Group I State Section championship Thursday afternoon when the Lady Pioneers defeated Secaucus, 4-0, at Lieder Field.
Senior striker Kim Closs scored two goals, while senior midfielder Amy Marchisio and freshman midfielder Alex Schlobohm added tallies for Coach Scott Murphy’s side. The victory lifted NP’s record to 21-1.
New Providence will face Section One champion Cresskill, which likewise sports a 21-1 record, in the State Semifinals.
November 13, 2009
Hudson County Varsity.com
Pats hope to learn from finals loss
by Jason Bernstein - Editorial Director
Some might view Secaucus’ 4-0 defeat to New Providence in the NJSIAA North 2, Group I title game as the end of a successful season. But for head coach Gino DePinto, it also represents a starting point for 2010.
“I just told the girls to go out there, just have fun,” DePinto said to his squad which entered the match as heavy underdogs. “We made it this far and this is the beginning of something the next few years to build upon.”
This plan would be the next step in what has been many in seven seasons under DePinto where the Patriots were once the doormats of the BCSL National division and won just one game in his first year as coach.
This year in particular marked a turning point for Secaucus (12-7-3). After never winning a playoff game under DePinto, the No. 4 seeded Patriots had earned a pair 1-0 victories over Lyndhurst and Dayton to reach the finals in a run that even they were surprised by.
“I’m very surprised by this year,” DePinto said. “I knew the group coming in was a freshman group that I knew had played together for a while. I knew we’d be better than in the previous years, but I didn’t know we’d go this far.”
But Secaucus’ tourney run came to a screeching halt at the hands of the defending sectional champs in New Providence. The No. 2 seeded Pioneers (21-1) applied the pressure from the opening whistle and broke through in the 11th minute when Amy Marchisio blast a shot off the right post and in net to make it 1-0.
“One of our goals for every game is to score as fast as we can to not let another team think they even have a chance to beat us,” New Providence coach Scott Murphy said. “Just doing that deflates the other team and it deflates the fans. That just gives the energy to keep going, to keep playing.”
New Providence would strike again twice more in the next 12 minutes with goals by Alex Schlobohm and Kim Closs. In the 47th minute, Closs would add her second goal of the game.
The Pioneer offense never relented, as they continued to release a seemingly endless stream of shots towards Secaucus keeper Kelsey Snedeker. The junior withstood the offensive onslaught to keep the game from getting out of hand, making a staggering 24 saves in defeat.
“She kept them in the game,” Murphy said. “She made some great saves on some shot that we normally would have scored on. She’s one of the better keepers that we’ve seen this year.”
Snedeker made 14 and 15 saves respectively during the Patriots’ first two playoff matches.
While Snedeker was in constant action, the Secaucus offense was completely shut down. The Patriots were unable to register a shot on starting goalie Connie Haggerty and a Pioneer defense that has allowed just six goals all season.
“Technically (skill wise) they’re a very good team,” DePinto said. “Passing, shooting, they’re just a very good team.”
Despite a less than ideal result in their last game of the season, there is plenty for the Patriots to be optimistic about. Snedeker headlines a group of nine returning starters next year. Among that group were five freshman starters. They also expect to field a traveling program this spring.
“We need this as a building block for the next year,” DePinto said. “Now they know what to be looking for with the states. They had never seen the state finals before. Now they have an idea.”
Kelsey Snedeker made 53 saves in three state playoff games for the Patriots.
1st 2nd Total
Secaucus (12-7-3) 0 0 0
New Providence (21-1) 3 1 4
Goals: Amy Marchisio, 11th minute, Alex Schlobohm, 15th minute, Kim Closs 23rd & 47th minutes
Assists: Alex Scholbohm, Rachel Schlobohm, Gina Caprara, Jenna Fay
Thursday is one of those days where you’d like to be in a couple places at the same time. A number of the sectional titles that will be up for grabs feature marquee matchups. Here’s a look at the schedule with some random thoughts below it.
NJSIAA TOURNAMENT - SECTIONAL FINALS - Group 1
NORTH JERSEY - SECTION 1: Emerson at Cresskill
NORTH JERSEY - SECTION 2: Scaucus at New Providence
CENTRAL JERSEY - Metuchen at Robbinsville
SOUTH JERSEY - Clayton at Pennsville, 2
Two days to sit and ponder what awaits on Thursday in the NJSIAA Tournament sectional finals. I figured it’s a good time to just ramble some miscellaneous information while we bide our time until the 2 p.m. kickoffs.
Bad news for Group 1 schools and especially Metuchen: Robbinsville is gaining speed in its pursuit of a second straight state title. It outscored its first two opponents, 16-1, with nine different sources contributing at least a goal. Its won eight of its last nine and the lone interruption was a 4-0 setback to prep powerhouse Pennington in the Mercer County Tournament final. Carina Fleming and Gavy Kaplan are just two of a number of carryovers eager to take the next step toward a repeat.
Pennsville’s Chelsea Abhau is the soccer equivalent of a streak shooter. She has put together eight multiple-goal performances en route to amassing 24 scores.
New Providence looks like it has all the weapons necessary to complete a state title run. Speed, scoring, tenacity, defense and leadership. You name it, coach Scott Murphy's group has it.
One weapon that is not visible on the field is the gnawing feeling inside each player left over from last season, when New Providence was eliminated by Waldwick in a shootout in the Group 1 semifinals.
``Losing to Waldwick left a bad taste in our mouths,'' Murphy said. ``In order to get back to that point, we just focused on every game. It was always about that game, that moment, never about the next round of the tournament. That's a big reason why we didn't slip this year.''
Utilizing that simple philosophy, New Providence (21-1) rolled through the regular season and the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament en route to its fifth state semifinal in 10 years. The Union County school will face Cresskill (21-1) today at 5 p.m. at Ridge High in Basking Ridge while defending state champion Robbinsville (17-3-1), No. 13 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, tangles with Clayton (19-4) at the same time at Toms River South.
In terms of tangible weapons, New Providence is locked and loaded. Seniors Kim Closs (28 goals, 13 assists) and Rachel Schlobohm (26 goals, seven assists) spearhead an offensive attack that reached 100 goals this season. Senior sweeper Nan Tucker and senior keeper Connie Haggerty anchor a defense that has registered 16 shutouts and a 0.23 goals-against average.
The best: Robbinsville stormed to its second straight Central Jersey title in dominating fashion, outscoring it three opponents by a 22-2 margin. Even more impressive is that 16 players supplied either a goal or assist in that splurge. Gavy Kaplan (11 goals), Christine Levering (12 goals) and Carina Fleming (nine goals) lead the scoring frenzy.
The rest: Cresskill (21-1) rides an explosive offense, which has generated 99 goals, and relies on the contributions of Floriana Borova (22 goals), Nikki Hernandez (10 goals, 13 assists), Ari Sarkisian (23 goals) and Emma Campbell (11 goals, 10 assists).
By displaying poise under pressure, Clayton (19-4) emerged victorious in a pair of shootouts en route to its first sectional title. Senior Felicia Riccelli (17 goals) and freshman Maxie New (15 goals) set the offensive tone for the South Jersey squad.
Prediction: Robbinsville appears determined to repeat, but New Providence will make it work hard for a second straight championship.
The Courier News - November 16, 2009
NJSIAA Girls Soccer: Group I Semifinal Scouting Report
North 2 champ New Providence (21-1) vs. North 1 champ Cresskill (23-1)
When/Where: Today, 5 p.m., at Ridge High School
How they got here: New Providence blasted Secaucas 4-0 in the North 2 final. Cresskill cruised past Emerson 4-0 in the North 1 final
New Providence report: The Pioneers won their second straight sectional title Thursday, capping a tournament that proved merely a formality. New Providence has outscored its opponents 12-0 in the postseason, an advantage that would be even greater if not for a 1-0 semifinal tilt with Glen Ridge. Led by senior sweeper Nan Tucker and senior keeper Connie Haggerty, who posted her 16th shutout Thursday, New Providence has allowed just six goals all year, with three coming in its first five games and the other three during county tournament play against larger schools. The Pioneers offense has continued to fire, as New Providence tallied its 100th goal of the season in the 4-0 pasting of Secaucas in the sectional final. After falling in a shootout to Waldwick in last year's Group I semifinals, the Pioneers are looking for their first trip to TCNJ since sharing the crown with Glen Rock in 2003. With a victory today, New Providence will face the Robbinsville-Clayton winner at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Cresskill report: Cresskill's only blemish on an otherwise perfect season was a 6-1 loss to three-time Non-Public A North champion Immaculate Heart on Oct. 11, and the Cougars have outscored opponents 52-7 in the 10 games since. Keeper Patricia Clark has recorded 13 shutouts and the defense in front of her moves the ball quickly up the field to Cresskill's powerful attack. Floriana Borova is the team's main striker, while Emma Campbell and Lindsey Berretta are big contributors in the team's spread offense.
Game 23 - November 17, 2009
NJSIAA Semi-Finals
The Star Ledger
Ari Sarkisian delivered the decisive strike after halftime and keeper Patricia Clark came up big to preserve the lead and send Cresskil to a 1-0 victory over New Providence last night in the NJSIAA/Investors Savings Bank Group 1 semifinals in Basking Ridge.
With the triumph, Cresskill (22-1) advanced to its first state final where it will meet defending champion Robbinsville (18-3-1), which posted a 2-0 decision over Clayton, in the Group 1 title game Saturday at 2 p.m. at The College of New Jersey in Ewing.
Sarkisian snapped a scoreless contest in the second half and Clark backed the score by coming up with 18 saves for her 14th shutout of the season. Connie Haggerty finished with four saves for New Providence (21-2), which owned a 22-5 advantage in shots.
1st 2nd Final
New Providence (21-2) 0 0 0
Cresskill (22-1) 0 1 1
Goals: Cresskill Ani Sarkisian.
Shots: New Providence 22. Cresskill 5.
Saves: New Providence Connie Haggerty 4. Cresskill Patricia Clark 18.
Game 23 - November 17, 2009
NJSIAA Semi-Finals
The Courier News
By SIMEON PINCUS • STAFF WRITER
Pioneers dominate, but fall in semis
BERNARDS — It isn't often that a team thoroughly dominates an opponent yet still comes up on the wrong end of the final score. But that is precisely the fate that befell the New Providence High School girls soccer team in Tuesday's NJSIAA Group I semifinals.
After 85-plus minutes of complete control over North I champion Cresskill at Ridge High School, the Pioneers season came crashing down with one flick of the right foot of Alex Peluso, whose off-balance shot sailed just inside the far post with 4:31 left in regulation and the Cougars held on for a 1-0 victory at Lee Field.
With the clock ticking toward overtime, Peluso settled a loose ball with her back to the net just inside the box after a throw-in. With a defender on her back, Peluso turned and sent a lofting shot toward the net, and it settled just inside the left post, barely out of the reach of lunging New Providence keeper Connie Haggerty.
"We did everything that we needed to do," New Providence coach Scott Murphy said. "It was a good shot that Connie couldn't get. We didn't finish, but that's soccer. We outplayed them for 86 minutes and they probably had, maybe, four or five quality chances, if they were even quality. But, not to take anything away from them, they hung in long enough and they got their goal. They pulled it out and we didn't."
New Providence took control from the opening kickoff, getting the ball deep in Cougars' territory, where seniors Kim Closs and Rachel Schlobohm looked to be heading toward a quick goal, but couldn't connect.
The trend continued all evening, as the Pioneers outshot Cresskill 19-9, including 13-6 on goal, and even added a Closs blast off the post with 24:55 left in the game, followed by another quick shot that was saved by Cresskill keeper Patricia Clark.
"We weren't getting good shots from inside the 18," Closs said. "I think we were trying too hard from the 30-yard line and the 20-yard line. Our center-mids were wide open a lot of the time in the center of the field and we couldn't get them the ball on the top of the 18. I think that's where we could have connected, but we didn't."
"I told them at halftime, "If they shut us down, then they deserve it,"' Murphy said. "We didn't score. We had our chances, we just didn't put it in the net. With soccer, you can do that. You can outshoot a team, and a team gets one little break. I don't even know if the girl meant to shoot it where she shot it, but sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Not to take anything away from them, but a lucky bounce here and there and they're going (to the final)."
Tuesday's loss marked the second straight year New Providence's campaign ended in the Group I semifinals at Ridge. The Pioneers fell to Waldwick in a shootout in last season's semi.
After a 21-win season, during which New Providence came within a 1-0 loss to Group III powerhouse and four-time reigning Union County champion Scotch Plains-Fanwood from reaching the county final, Murphy is still very happy with his team's effort Tuesday.
"It's not like we came and we choked," he said. "We outplayed them and I'm so proud of everything they accomplished this year — and even today."
Game 23 - November 17, 2009
NJSIAA Semi-Finals
The Independent Press
By Art Polakowski
New Providence girls defeated in State Semifinal soccer match
BASKING RIDGE - The New Providence girls sent 18 shots on net, but Cresskill goalkeeper Patricia Clark stopped all of them, and it was the Bergen County school which broke through for the only score with 3:55 remaining in the Group I State Semifinal match Tuesday evening at Ridge High School.
Granted perhaps a tad too much space one pass after a throw-in, Cresskill’s Alex Peluso picked the upper left corner of the cage from 15 yards away to supply her team with a 1-0 victory.
New Providence’s territorial advantage didn’t seem as extreme as the final 18-to-5 shots total, but the Lady Pioneers did have the better of overall play, particularly during the second half. Nevertheless, Coach Scott Murphy’s troops saw their campaign conclude with a 21-2 record.
Cresskill advances to the State Championship round with a 22-1 mark.
Game 23 - November 18, 2009
NJSIAA Semi-Finals
The Bergen RecordThe Independent Press
by Ronald P. Clark - Staff Writer
Peluso's goal put Cresskill in Group 1 final
BASKING RIDGE – Don’t ask Alex Peluso what happened in the 86th minute of Cresskill’s 1-0 victory over New Providence on Tuesday. She doesn’t know. "It’s hard to even remember," Peluso said. "It happened so fast."
A corner kick, a rebound, then Peluso’s shot into the left corner of the net. The junior may not know what happened, but she’ll always remember the reaction of her teammates as she scored the goal that sent Cresskill to its first Group 1 State championship game in school history.
"I was shocked," Peluso said. "I was so excited. I knew there were [four minutes left] and I knew if we held them, we were going to the final."
It was a battle from beginning to end. Both teams played well defensively. Both teams had opportunities to score. And as the second half progressed, Cresskill seemed a bit on its heels.
"They were beating us," said senior Nikki Hernandez. "I’m not going to lie."
It was physical. The refs let the girls play. It seemed like a game of first goal wins.
So when Peluso got her chance and punched it in, it was almost a sigh of relief. Well, sort of.
"I thought I was about to have a stroke," Hernandez said. "And I’m not allowed to have a stroke. I’m too young for this. I was so happy. I’m speechless. Words are not forming out of my mouth right now."
Cresskill can give some credit to the play of All-Bergen County goalkeeper Patricia Clark, who finished the game with 26 saves, including a great diving save in the 26th minute to prevent what should have been an easy goal or New Providence.
"This is a very athletic and cohesive group of girls," said Cresskill coach John Massaro. "And at this point, everyone is clicking together. With our defense playing the way it is, we’ve got all the pieces."
Cresskill is a team on a mission, unwilling to relent the progress its made during the greatest girls soccer run in school history.
"Even if we wouldn’t have won [Tuesday], I would have been happy," Hernandez said. "We won the sectional, we won our league. This was just a bonus. If we finish this, I’ll be the happiest girl alive."
A team led by a group of seniors has one of their underclassmen teammates to thank for continuing their run, continuing the dream and adding to a growing list of firsts for Cresskill girls soccer.
"It’s history," Peluso said. "It was history to even win the last game. But to move on, we were like the pressure is not on us, it’s on them. If we do well, it’s just going to be amazing for us. And now Saturday, we’re going to play in the final [against Robbinsville at The College of New Jersey]. That’s never happened before for girls soccer. It’s just amazing to be a part of this."
The Independent Press - November 23, 2009
Late tally tops New Providence girls in soccer State Semifinal
By Art Polakowski
BASKING RIDGE - In retrospect, Scott Murphy acknowledges there was a potential worse-case scenario.
“I’d rather lose that way than have us get eliminated on penalty-kicks,” the New Providence High School girls soccer coach said following the Lady Pioneers’ loss to Cresskill in a State Semifinal match last Tuesday evening at Ridge High School.
Considering his team’s 2008 campaign had been terminated by a tiebreaking shootout at that same stage of its tournament run - and also in the same venue and against another Bergen County opponent (Waldwick) - it’s understandable Murphy would experience unwanted déjà vu with the clock ticking down without either side putting a point on the board.
Murphy admits his primary concern was losing on PKs after 100 minutes (80 regulation plus 20 overtime) of 0-0 soccer.
‘I really didn’t think they would score on us,” Murphy related. “We had the better of it the entire game, and our defense was playing especially well.
Nevertheless, Cresskill’s Alex Peluso succeeded in notching a goal with 3:55 remaining in regulation to provide Cresskill with a 1-0 victory. The Section One champs thus improved their season record to 22-1 and advanced to the statewide championship game against Robinsville. The NP girls were forced to settle for their State Section crown and a final 21-2 mark.
New Providence sent 18 shots on net, but Cresskill goalkeeper Patricia Clark stopped all of them. The 400 or so fans in attendance readily realized that sending a ball past Clark would be a difficult task. She clearly gave the Cougars a quality presence between the pipes.
It was also apparent Cresskill had New Providence well-scouted in its defensive emphasis towards the Pioneers’ standout striker tandem of Kim Closs and Rachel Schlobohm.
“They were dropping virtually everyone back and focused on not letting Kim or Rachel beat them on the outside,
New Providence countered by attacking more frequently from the center of the field, where NP midfielders found more space than would be the case against a conventional defensive scheme. Freshman center mid Alex Schlobohm (Rachel’s sister) was particularly adept at initiating potential scoring chances, but New Providence never got a genuine high-percentage opportunity.
Although Cresskill was credited with just five shots on goal, the Cougars did come closer (than NP) to scoring, prior to the only tally, when their freshman star Ani Sarkisian carried past the defense in the second half for a point-blank try which NP keeper Connie Haggerty made a remarkable athletic play to knock aside.
As for Cresskill’s actual goal, Murphy admits he never saw it coming. Cresskill had a throw-in, and then there was one touch that put the ball at Peluso’s feet from an angle some 20 yards out.
“It wasn’t a place from where you’d expect a shot,” the New Providence coach agreed.
Nevertheless, Peluso picked the upper left corner with a perfectly-placed ball to end the season for New Providence’s best-ever girls soccer side.
QUITE AN EFFORT - It wound up being in a losing cause, but New Providence junior midfielder Gina Caprara (green uniform) fashioned a terrific performance throughout the Lady Pioneers’ State Semifinal match against Cresskill. Battling Caprara for this ball is Cresskill’s Alex Peluso, who was to score the game’s only goal with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.
Photo by J. Homer Fuentes
November 13, 2009
Courier News
by Paul Franklin, Staff Writer
New Providence putting it all together
Pioneers roll ovor Secaucus to win sectional title
NJSIAA GRILS SOCCER
North 2 Group1 final
New Providence 4, Secaucus 0
New Providence High School girls soccer team scored its 100th goal of the season Thursday afternoon
The Pioneers encoun-tered more of an exercise than a competition in cruising past Secaucus 4-0 in the NJSIAA North 2 Group 1 championship game at Lieder Field.
The win sends them into Tuesday's Group I state semifinal against North 1 champ Cresskill at Ridge at 5 p.m. That is where their season ended a year ago, when they lost in a shootout.
"I've had teams in the past that have been equal. in skills and athleticism, and knowledge of the game, but this team has it all together," offered Scott Murphy, in his seventh season as head coach. "I didn't anticipate being 21-1 at this point, but one of our goals was to get back to the state semifinals, and now it's one more step to get to the finals."
They achieved their first goal by keeping the ball in the Secaucus end for what seemed like 79 minutes. Senior Kim Closs picked up ,a pair of goals, includ-ing the magic 100 the second half. Freshman Alex Schlobohm had one goal and one assist.
New Providence scored two goals in the game's first 15 minutes, and it was clear at that point that the biggest challenge of the day would be to keep warm.
"There are 10 seniors on this team, and we've all been playing together since elementary school," Closs said, "so there's so much chemistry on this team., We all know how each other plays. I think that's a key,
"This year we had really high.standards. We want to win the Group I champion-ship, all the way. Last year we went to group semifi-nals and we lost, and-we don't want that feeling ever again."
They've had that feeling only once this season in a loss Scotch Plains-Fanwood, allowing only 6 goals all
Season.
They will need both ends of the game to win the school’s first state title since 2003, at a site that obviously holds unpleasant memories.
“I know, when I get there it will be like déjà vu,” Closs said with a smile. 'It will be like, Oh, God! Please let t1hisnot happen again.”
