Monday, October 26, 2009

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Tara Corbett's goal in the 50th minute was the only score in No. highlands' 1-0 win over Old Tappan in the Bergen County Tournament quarterfinals.

OAKLAND – Great saves, shots hitting the framework, and other missed opportunities all led to frustration for the Northern Highlands’ front line, especially senior Tara Corbett. It appeared it was another one of those crazy Bergen County Tournament games where one team would dominate the possession, only to bow out in an upset loss. Northern Highlands, the No. 2 seed, was deadlocked in a scoreless duel with seventh-seeded Northern Valley/Old Tappan on Sunday when a misplay in the back left the ball on the foot of a wide-open Corbett in the middle of the box, just 10 yards from the Golden Knights’ net.

Corbett knew chances were not going to come any better and made it count. Her goal in the 50th minute was the only one of the game as the Highlanders held on for a 1-0 win in the Bergen County quarterfinals at Indian Hills High School.

The first half was all Northern Highlands as it peppered the Golden Knights’ net. They were not able to break through as OT keeper Emily Russell made several nice saves (11 for the game) to keep the game scoreless through the first 40 minutes.

Emily Russell made a host of tough saves for Old Tappan.

“Northern Highlands is a very good team and our defense did a great job of holding them off in the first half,” said Northern Valley/Old Tappan head coach Tom Quinn. “I thought our goalie (Russell) did a great job and we played as well as we could play. We tried to hang tough defensively and catch a break up front. We just made one mistake and (Corbett) was in the right place at the right time.”

The Highlanders continued to press in the second half, culminating with the game’s only goal just over 10 minutes in. Despite several efforts to clear the ball out, the Highlanders kept the ball in the Old Tappan penalty area. It crossed back-and-froth four times before a failed clearing attempt rolled right to Corbett just in front of the penalty spot in the middle of the box. With two defenders quickly converging on her, she took a touch and blasted a shot into the back of the net.

“It was frustrating to see the ball go back and forth in the box, and then it ended up right in front of me,” said Corbett. “The whole game, I was frustrated offensively as the rest of my team was. We had so many chances, we just couldn’t finish. I just saw an opportunity and I tried to put the ball in the right spot.”

Old Tappan (9-6) had two chances in the final five minutes. One slipped away when a player was unable to settle the ball just inside the top of the box. The other, a shot by Monique Plescia,
was saved by Northern Highlands’ netminder Caroline Broder.

Alex Hubelbank and No. Highlands will play Ramapo in next weekend's semifinals.

Northern Highlands (13-0-1) held a 25-4 advantage in shots and Broder made just three saves to record her 10th straight shutout. The Highlanders advanced to the Bergen County semifinals next Sunday, where they will face sixth-seeded Ramapo, which won a thrilling 5-4 game over Ramsey.

The Highlanders will have a chance to avenge the only blemish on their record, a scoreless tie against Ramapo last week, but that is the furthest thing from the mind of either head coach Tara Madigan or her players.

“We just want to keep working hard and work on getting better every day,” added Corbett. “Ramapo is always a tough game and both teams will be ready to play. We just have to come out really hard for 80 minutes and give it everything we have.”

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