Wednesday, September 23, 2009

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Johnna Trotter’s goal late in the first half was the game-winner for Hasbrouck Heights, which hasn't lost a league game since 2001.

LYNDHURST – Over the past eight years within the BCSL-National Division, the Hasbrouck Heights/Wood-Ridge girls soccer team has been….well, perfect. Not only have the Aviators not lost a game since the final day of the regular season in 2001, but they have rarely trailed in romping to seven straight undefeated league records. But when Lyndhurst’s Amanda Uhlick scored just four minutes into Tuesday’s match, the Aviators found themselves in an unfamiliar position; trailing by a goal in league play with an inexperienced squad having to make up the deficit and keep the incredible unbeaten streak alive.

Megan Gwozdecke tied the score and Johnna Trotter’s goal late in the first half proved to be the game-winner. The Aviators locked down defensively and gave up just three second-half shots in a 2-1 win.

“After we went down a goal, we knew we had to step it up,” said Gwozdecke, who earlier this season became the school’s all-time leader in assists. “We just had to make sure we didn’t panic and we kept playing our game.”

Krista Jinks played well in goal for Lyndhurst.

Lyndhurst did not waste much time in putting a scare into the Aviators. On a misplay in the back, Uhlick pounced on a loose ball near the top of the key and buried it inside the left post to put the Golden Bears on top 1-0 at the four-minute mark. It was also the first goal they have scored on the Aviators in four years.

“We were definitely surprised by that goal and the pressure was on us,” said Hasbrouck Heights’ Julia Weingartner. “We don’t have as much experience as we had last year, but we are still here to pick each other up. This is a wide field here and we just had to keep playing the ball to the corners. We knew if we kept doing that and kept attacking we would find a way to score.”

It took just over seven minutes to do that and it came off of a corner kick. Macie Collazo curved one into the box and Gwozdecke came up from her sweeper slot to head it home and knot the score at one.

Later in the half, Trotter collected a ball in the box and put it past diving Lyndhurst keeper Krista Jinks to give the Aviators a 2-1 lead.

Julia Weingartner and Heights improved to 4-0-1 on the season.

“There was no real thought process behind it, all I thought about was I had to get this ball in the net,” said Trotter said of her game-winning goal. “When it went in, I was finally able to relax. The big key was for us is to keep playing our game no matter what the score is. But as a team, we feel more comfortable and we seem to play better once we get the lead.”

The Golden Bears hoped to mount more of an attack in the second half and net the equalizer. However, a stout Hasbrouck Heights defense limited them to just three shots, and just one on net. Gwozdecke, Marissa Romano, freshman Teressa Ayala, and Melissa Spethman clamped down defensively and controlled the Aviators’ defensive third of the field.

“Hasbrouck Heights’ defense, especially in the second half, was fantastic,” said Lyndhurst head coach Lori DeLuca. “We’re trying to find something that works for us offensively and we’re still learning. I’m happy with our effort and that we scored against them for the first time in a long time. Our league is much more competitive this year and every game is going to be a close one. Not the result we wanted today, but we’re still a work in progress. Today was another step in the right direction.”

Kaitlynn McGinnis and the Lyndhurst defense played well throughout.

Hasbrouck Heights (4-0-1) will look to keep the lengthy streak going tomorrow when they face the team that last beat them in league play, North Arlington.

Lyndhurst (2-2-1) got a solid game in the back from Nina Motichka and Kaitlynn McGinnis. Jinks finished with 11 saves for the Golden Bears.

“We aren’t the same team we were last year, but we know we can still be a very good team,” added Gwozdecke. “We have to start stronger than we did today, but this game will help us get better. Teams are a lot stronger in our league this year and we have to be prepared for that. We’ll just keep taking it one game at a time.”

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