Friday, November 9, 2007

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

JoJo Pisani scored just 30 seconds before halftime to give Ramapo the lead for good on the way to its fourth straight state sectional title.

FRANKLIN LAKES – When the final whistle blew to end Thursday’s North 1, Group 3 State sectional soccer final, there was no water dumped over the head of the winning coach, no pile up of players at midfield and not much more than handshakes and smiles given out near the Ramapo bench. While a state sectional title is a true accomplishment, it is more like business as usual for the Ramapo girls soccer program.

The Green Raiders have made the sectional tournament their own in 30 years under head coach Paul Heenehan. Counting Thursday’s 2-0 win over Northern Highlands, Ramapo has won 21 sectional titles, 13 of the last 14 and four in a row.

Having been there before, the Green Raiders felt no need to rub it in to a Northern Highlands team that had an outstanding year in its own right having reached the Bergen County and state sectional finals.

“It’s about sportsmanship. It is kind of rude to show off in front of the other team after they just lost a big game,” said Ramapo junior Nicole Pecararo. “Northern Highlands played a great game and we all are hoping that this is our year to win a state championship. We want to keep going and not have this be the last win of our season.”

Emma Reich and the Northern Highlands attack put pressure on Ramapo early.

Highlands, the last team the beat Ramapo in a sectional playoff game (2003), came out like gang busters and had the better of play for the first 15 or so minutes. It had two dangerous chances in a one-minute span, the first off a restart struck by Katrina Battle that came in low and found a whole bunch of feet in the penalty area, although none of the Highlanders could get a clean look at the next through the scrum before the ball was finally played out by Ramapo’s Becca Cooke.

A minute later, Emma Reich found enough daylight to get a off a rip on the Ramapo net, but her low liner was hauled in by keeper Caroline Shiel (3 saves) and the Green Raiders began to regain the territory it had previously been giving up.

And just before halftime, Ramapo turned the game in its favor for good. With less than 30 seconds to go before the break, Janelle Biagini was taken down just outside the left edge of the penalty area to set up a dangerous restart.

Taylor Schulte stepped over the stationary ball and crushed one that was ticketed for the roof before Highlands keeper Caroline Broder did well just to get a hand on the ball. But there was a rebound and JoJo Pisani buried it.

A goal's-eye view of Ramapo sophomore Becca Cooke's first career goal.

“There was a foul against them and Taylor Schulte sent in a long ball,” said Pisani. “Their goalie got a piece of it, but I saw it get away and I just ran through it and put it in.”

The goal was a dagger to Highlands, which played even or better for 40 minutes and still found itself trailing at the half.

“That is a team that has come together and I give [Highlands head coach] Tara Madigan a lot of credit because she had her team playing so well coming in here and they were tough today,” said Heenehan, whose team improved to 15-1-4 on the season. “They are playing much better than they were even just three weeks ago and that is a real credit to those kids.”

But Highlands was left in chase mode and Ramapo took advantage by moving the ball quickly and the Green Raiders dominated the second half, allowing just one shot on goal. Ramapo then got some insurance from an unlikely pair as Pecararo and Cooke, two defenders, made a connection in the 65th minute.

Caroline Broder was solid in net for Northern Highlands.

Pecararo was on the fringes of the attack when a ball was played back to her near the sidelines. She pushed it forward and then sent in a floating cross to the middle of the penalty area where Pisani and Cooke were each battling for position. It was Cooke that got her head on the ball and put it home for her first goal of the season and her varsity career.

“Somebody played the ball out and Nikki crossed it in. It was up in the air for a while,” said Cooke, a sophomore. “I called off JoJo and I put it in. It was exciting.”

The Green Raiders will have a chance for some more excitement in the Group 3 state semifinals on Tuesday night against North 2 winner West Morris-Mendham at Indian Hills High School.

“The goal is always to get to that state final game and put yourself in a position as a team to win a state championship,” said Heenehan. “The sectional [championship] is a great stepping stone to it and I told them at the end of the game to take a moment to reflect on this because there are a lot of teams that are not playing right now.”

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