Sunday, November 4, 2007

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Senior Jen Orlando scored the lone goal of the Bergen County final, a header in the 26th minute off a corner from her sister, Nicole, that gave IHA its first outright county title since 2000.

OAKLAND – From all-league, to all-county to all-state honors, Immaculate Heart Academy’s Jen Orlando has earned just about every accolade an individual player could ask for. However, the two accomplishments missing from the senior’s impressive resume are the two most important in her eyes, two team-oriented achievements. One is an outright Bergen County title and the other a state championship.

With this season being her last go-round in high school, Orlando took it upon herself to make sure the first of those goals was secured.

Orlando scored on a header in the 26th minute off a corner kick from her younger sister Nicole. That was all the top-seeded Blue Eagles needed as they notched their first outright Bergen County title since 2000 with a 1-0 win over second-seeded Northern Highlands.

IHA dominated the possession game right from the opening whistle and put immense pressure on the Highlanders’ defense starting when freshman Erin McGovern dented the crossbar with a rip from 40 yards out that came straight down and somehow stayed out of the net.

Leah Taylor and the Highlands defense had a busy day against IHA's sustained attack.

As she has for years against quality opponents, Orlando controlled the middle of the field and helped consistently get the ball up to the state’s most dangerous front line of Tara Schwitter, Ashlee Burt, and Claire Reinhard.

Led by Katrina Battle and goalie Caroline Broder, Highlands was able to keep the game scoreless, but they were only able to hold off the Blue Eagles for so long. On one of the seven corner kicks it earned in the first half, IHA finally found a way to crack the vaunted Highlander defense.

Nicole Orlando curved a corner kick towards the near post where her sister, Jen, made a run right to where the ball was headed. She flicked the ball past Broder and into the net with 14:50 to play in the first half, giving IHA the lead for good.

“We had to get a goal and we needed one,” said Jen Orlando, who will play next fall at SUNY-Binghamton. “I figured that I was closer to the near post that the goalie would be closer to the near post, so I just flicked one towards the far post. It is always a good game against (Northern) Highlands, and it’s such good competition.”

Tara Schwitter and the IHA offense put the pressure on right from the opening whistle.

IHA continued to dominate, hitting the crossbar twice in the final 12 minutes and maintaining the lead going into the second half.

“Even though we deserved to be up (3-0), but it’s not that, it’s (1-0),” said IHA head coach Steve Silver. “Jen (Orlando) has had a great four years for us and it’s not a surprise that she scored a big goal for us. I expect that from Jen, she’s such a quality player.”

The second half looked like it might bring the Highlanders some life with a strong wind at their back. However, the Blue Eagles never allowed that to be a factor and kept the pressure on by keeping the ball on the carpet, keeping the tempo in their favor and owning possession for long stretches.

Broder kept Northern Highlands within striking distance with diving saves on Burt and Schwitter and the Highlanders last chance came in the final minutes when they earned a corner kick. But they were never able to get off a shot and IHA kept its unblemished season intact.

IHA (17-0) held a whopping 16-2 advantage in shots and 11-2 in corner kicks. Kate Courter needed to make just one save as the Blue Eagles notched their 15th shutout of the season. Broder played well, making nine saves for Northern Highlands (11-3-2).

Ashley Lopes and Highlands will get a chance to regroup on Monday in the North 1, Group 3 sectional semifinals against Wayne Hills.

“I think we know that today was not our best game,” said Northern Highlands head coach Tara Madigan. “You can’t play okay against a team like IHA. We were lucky that it wasn’t 4-0 at halftime. We gave up eleven corner kicks and seven in the first half, there were likely to score on something we gave up.”

Both teams have interesting match-ups coming in Monday’s sectional semifinals. Northern Highlands will face NBIL foe Wayne Hills, an upset winner over top-seeded Wayne Valley, in the North 1, Group 3 semifinals. IHA will look to hold onto its No. 1 national ranking when it faces Pingry, which has knocked the Blue Eagles out of the states the past three seasons, in Parochial A North.

“We came out and played 80 minutes and we were prepared to play,” said Silver. “We were doing everything right and we set the tone in the first five minutes. Within those five minutes, we knew were we ready to play. We were able to limit their possessions and it led to us playing our game.

“I hope we can send the same message against Pingry early on, that in the first five minutes that we’re ready to play. To be considered the number one team in the country is an honor and what it says about New Jersey soccer, that’s what adds up to it. No matter what happens, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.”

FOR MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS EVENT TO BUY A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS GAME STORY, PLEASE VISIT 4FeetGrafix.com.