Pioneers to Open State Tournament at Home on Tuesday
The Pioneers’ girls’ soccer team had one of their most successful seasons in recent history. Finishing their 2014 campaign with back-to-back losses, New Providence now sets their sight on Tuesday’s state tournament opener, where they will have big shoes to fill.
Their 10-5 postseason qualifying record (11-7 if you count their tournament-exempt games from the past week) put the Pioneers in the Top 2 of the North Jersey 2, Group 1 tournament.
As the No. 2 seed, New Providence is guaranteed home games through the section semifinals, should they continue to win.
The Pioneers’ first round match is scheduled for Tuesday at Lieder Field, as they host No. 15 Ridgefield for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
Credits: Alli Lamhing
NORTH 2 GROUP I Seedings
16-Weehawken at 1-Lyndhurst
9-North Arlington at 8-Harrison
12-Dayton at 5-Glen Ridge
14-Cedar Grove at 4-Wood-Ridge
14-Secaucus at 3-Verona
11-Hoboken at 6-McNair
10-Brearley at 7-Belvidere
15-Ridgefield at 2-New Providence
Game 12 - November 4, 2014
New Providence 8, Ridgefield 0
NJSIAA Tournament, First Round
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1
The Star Ledger
Lisa Caprara had a hat trick to lead New Providence to an 8-0 victory over Ridgefield in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 Tournament in New Providence. New Providence jumped ahead early and led 5-0 at halftime. Riley Kinum scored a goal and had two assists. Nicole Giacalone scored a goal and had an assist and Laila Stedman and Kelly Sherman both had an assist. Maggie Roughley, Erin Fay and Amba Parekh each scored a goal.
Players
Lisa Caprara 3 goals
Erin Fay 1 goal
Nicole Giacalone 1 goal and 1 assist
Riley Kinum 1 goal 2 assist
Amba Parekh 1 goal
Maggie Roughley 1 goal
Kelly Sherman 1 assist
Laila Stedman 1 assist
The Courier News
Lisa Caprara scored a hat trick, and Maggie Roughley, Nicole Giacalone, Riley Kinum, Erin Fay and Amba Parekh each netted one goal to lead second-seeded New Providence. Laila Stedman and Kelly Sherman each recorded an assist for the Pioneers, who face 10th-seeded Brearly in the next round.
The Alternative Press
Pioneers Open State Tournament with 8-0 Rout Over Ridgefield
by Tim LeCras
Pioneer girls’ soccer star Lisa Caprara expected her team to win their state tournament opener by a pretty large margin. What she didn’t expect was how quickly their success would be.
Before the fans at Lieder Field could even get settled, No. 2 New Providence scored three goals in the opening 10 minutes leading to an 8-0 victory over No. 15 Ridgefield.
“We played hard right from the start to get the score up,” Caprara said. “Once it was eight, we played possession because we know we’re going to face better opponents.”
Caprara led the charge against the Royals, recording her second hat trick of the year. She scored two of the first three goals in the match, the second of which came off a nice rebound shot to put the Pioneers ahead 3-0.
Maggie Roughley, Nicole Giacalone and Riley Kinum also scored in the Pioneers huge first half, leading to a five-goal advantage at the half.
With the game at end in the final 40 minutes, head coach Scott Murphy went to his reserves to finish the game. Murphy said the decision was partly to get his starters rest, but the experience the reserves got is priceless to build a successful long-term program.
“Its playing in a state tournament, getting the experience of the environment, for the kids to have an idea of what its like,” Murphy said. “Just getting them significant time today will only increase their focus and their level going forward for the next few years that they’re here.”
The time paid off as five underclassmen scored in the match, including Kinum and Giacolone, who are both freshmen, and sophomore Amba Parekh.
The Pioneers now have two days to prepare for No. 10 David Brearley on Friday. In last year’s tournament, New Providence upset top-seeded Brearley, 2-0, in the section quarterfinals.
With the home field advantage this time around, Murphy expects his squad to obtain a similar result.
“We’re much better at home then we are on the road, which most teams are,” he said. “It was one of our goals to earn that in the beginning of the season, to get the quality points, to earn home field throughout. We’ve earned it so now we have to come out and show that we earned it and want to keep it.”
Kick-off for Friday’s quarterfinal match has not yet been determined.
Glen Ridge has established itself as one of the premier teams in Essex County, and a force to be reckoned with in Group 1. After winning the state title in 2012, coach Oscar Viteri's side shared the Group 1 crown with Shore last season. The Ridgers made the Essex County Tournament final this year and fell to Group 4 power Montclair by just one goal.
CONTENDERS
New Providence will likely be Glen Ridge's most difficult competition in this bracket. The Union County side is 11-8, having played some very tough opponents in the Union County Conference. Lyndhurst, meanwhile, has lost only twice all season long, the fewest defeats of anyone in the section. Verona boasts a potent offense with several dangerous scorers.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Glen Ridge's Tomison Kennedy is skilled player in the midfield, possessing the ability to score goals at a rapid pace and giving the Ridgers a chance in almost every contest. Jessica Failace, Amanda Fulcher and Destiny Keith have totaled 50 goals for Lyndhurst and Giana DiTonto has assisted on 31 scores. Morgan Kurz is the offensive catalyst for Wood-Ridge, having amassed 15 goals and eight assists.
Others to watch:Ryanne Ege, Glen Ridge; Gabrielle Capulong, McNair; Mackenzie Schanzlin, Belvidere; Katherin Merino, Harrison; Taylor Barth, North Arlington
THE PICK
Glen Ridge
Freshman Riley Kinum scored her first career varsity goal during Thursday's victory over Ridgefield. Credits: Alli Lamhing
Sophomore Amba Parekh scored her first varsity goal in the second half of Tuesday's 8-0 victory over Ridgefield. Credits: Alli Lamhing
Lisa Caprara recorded her second hat trick of the season during the Pioneers' rout of Ridgefield in the opening round of the state tournament on Tuesday. Credits: Alli Lamhing
Game 13 - November 7, 2014
New Providence 3, Brearley 0
NJSIAA Tournament, Quarter Finals
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1
The Star Ledger
Megan Mahlstadt, Erin Fay and Laila Stedman each scored and Jen Maluso stopped two shots to lead New Providence to a 3-0 victory over Brearley in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 quarterfinals in New Providence. Lisa Caprara assisted on all three goals for New Providence. Leanne Bastos finished with a dozen saves for Brearley.
Player
Lisa Caprara 3 assists
Erin Fay 1 goal
Megan Mahlstadt 1goal
Laila Stedman 1 goal
Jen Maluso 2 saves
Shots on Goal 12
The Courier News
Erin Fay, Laila Stedman, and Megan Mahlstadt all scored a goal, all assisted by Lisa Caprara, as second-seeded New Providence (13-8) rolled. Jen Maluso made two saves for the Pioneers, who will visit third-seeded Verona in the semifinals.
The Alternative Press
Pioneers Advance to Section Semis with 3-0 Win Over Brearley
by Tim LeCras
Goalkeeper Jen Maluso has been stellar all season for the Pioneers’ girls’ soccer squad. She’s been even better through the first two games of the state tournament.
Three days after shutting out Ridgefield in the state opener, Maluso led New Providence to their second consecutive victory, a 3-0 shutout over David Brearley, on Friday at New Providence High School.
“It feels pretty good,” Maluso said. “I’m just trying to look forward to the next game, keep my head in the game the entire time and remain focused. I just hope we continue winning.”
Led by Maluso’s voice in the backfield, the Pioneers never allowed Brearley to maintain pressure in their offensive half of the field. In fact, it wasn’t until late in the second half that Maluso had to make a save.
“The backline, most of the time, don’t get the credit that defenders should get because the notoriety goers to the goal scorers or the ones who get the assists,” head coach Scott Murphy said. “They’ve been solid all year; they cover for each other; they play with each other.”
New Providence’s offensive prowess dictated the pace of the game as three separate Pioneers scored, but all were fed by the same teammate, Lisa Caprara.
Caprara, the team’s leading goal scorer was held off the scoreboard on Friday, but her three assists more than made up for it.
In the first half, Caprara launched a cross from 30-yards away to assist on Erin Fay’s tiebreaking goal. Later in the second half, Caprara ripped a cross from the corner that Laila Steadman bodied into the goal.
Quickly after Steadman put the Pioneers on top 2-0, Caprara connected with Megan Mahlstadt’s head on a corner kick to seal the victory.
“That’s what the difference between a good player and a very good player is,” Murphy said, “someone who can get the ball to other people in the right spots for them to score. Just her being wide and being to create out wide, she was able to get the ball in and assist on all three goals.”
The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday when they will host either No. 3 Verona or No. 6 McNair at Lieder Field.
New Providence goalkeeper Jen Maluso (right) has pitched two shutouts to open the 2014 state tournament. Her latest was a 3-0 victory over Brearley on Friday. Credits: Alli Lamhing
Game 14 - November 11, 2014
New Providence 1, Verona 2
NJSIAA Tournament, Semi Finals
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1
The Star Ledger
Jackie Brozyna and Kelly Carr each found the back of the net as third-seeded Verona beat second-seeded New Providence, 2-1, in the semifinals of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 1 tournament in New Providence.
Diana Flores made it stand with 11 saves in net for Verona, which advanced to meet Glen Ridge in the sectional final on Friday.
Lexi Everton scored with an assist from Maggie Roughley as New Providence found itself tied 1-1 at halftime. Jen Maluso finished with a pair of saves in net for New Providence.
Player
Lexi Everton 1 goal
Maggie Roughley 1 assist
Jen Maluso 2 saves
Shots on Goal 11
The Courier News
Lexi Everton scored a first-half goal for second-seeded New Providence, but third-seeded Verona found the winner in the second period to eliminate the Pioneers. Jen Maluso made two saves in the setback.
The Alternative Press
Girls Soccer: Pioneers Fall to Verona in Section Semis, 2-1
by Tim LeCras
The Pioneers’ girls’ soccer team had not been called for an obstruction one time all season until the second half of their section semifinal match against Verona.
Late in the 76th minute with the match tied at one, a New Providence defender was called for an obstruction approximately 30 yards from the goal. The ensuing Verona indirect free-kick fell to the foot of a forward who advanced the ball into the goal to send the Hillbillies into the North Jersey 2, Group 1 final.
“That’s the first obstruction call we’ve had all season,” New Providence head coach Scott Murphy said. “[The referee] made the call and we should have done better defending it. I think we were a little out of sorts because we didn’t think the call should have been made. To their credit, they put it in.”
Verona’s ability to create opportunities and turn mistakes into goals was the difference in the game. The Hillbillies first goal came in the 23rd minute on a loose ball in the box, a play Murphy said was huge for the rest of the match.
“The thing about soccer is you can create so many chances and if you don’t put them away, you can’t win,” Murphy said. “The two big ones they had, they put them away.”
On the other hand, New Providence could not make the most of their opportunities. After Verona took the lead in the 76th minute, the Pioneers had one last surge.
Senior Lisa Caprara dodged a Hillbilly defender that opened up a 1-on-1 with the goalkeeper, however, her shot sailed high over the crossbar and sent Verona to the section final.
Even in the match’s early stages, the Pioneers missed several opportunities to score, which Murphy felt could have changed the rest of the match.
The Pioneers managed to grab the lead in the 18th minute when Lexi Everton scored, but that was all the New Providence offense could muster.
“Looking at the first 15 minutes, when we were pressing them and were all over them in the first 15, we needed to get one then,” Murphy said. “I think that would have totally changed the complexion of the game. Give them credit, they hung in and they battled. I think that’s kind of how they’ve been doing it all year.”
The loss negates New Providence’s opportunity for a rematch of last year’s section final with Glen Ridge, a chance Murphy “would have liked to have gotten.”
