Monday, December 3, 2012

NJSIAA Group 3 finals
Northern Highlands finishes off second straight perfect season

Northern Highlands' Hana Kerner.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

EWING – Falling behind at halftime for just the second time all season, the Northern Highlands girls soccer team could have been been nervous as their 47 game winning streak was on the line and there was a real danger that Moorestown might topple what has taken the Highlanders two years to build just before they could put the finishing touches on it. Even though the Highlanders had dominated in virtually every possible manner of the first half of Sunday's Group 3 state final rematch against Moorestown, the only stat that mattered was on the scoreboard and that was the only one where they did not have an advantage. A late first-half goal by Moorestown’s Marie McCool put the Highlanders behind for only the second time all season. In a strange twist though, the Highlanders came over to the bench not bewildered, but smiling and pumping each other up. They knew if they were going to polish off another incredible season with a state title that they had to face some adversity along the way and they seemed to welcome the challenge. MORE...

NJSIAA GROUP 2 FINALS
• Glen Rock goes out with a bang

Thursday, November 29, 2012

NJSIAA Group 3 semifinals
Northern Highlands girls soccer: 47 and counting

Highlands' Clare Shea.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

RAMSEY – Really, what else is there to say about the Northern Highlands girls soccer team and its winning streak, which started on Opening Day of last season and was extended to 47 straight games on Wednesday night? The Highlanders are good, the best team in the state bar none, and can overcome just about anything an opponent or outside circumstances throw in their way. Against Roxbury in the Group 3 state semifinals, Highlands was without two of its most aggressive and dangerous attacking players, who were away at a club tournament, a conflict created by the multiple delays in the state tournament. They were up against a team that came to win, a Roxbury side that was not interested in sitting in a defensive shell, but instead ran three strikers and three good ones at that in Paige Monaghan, Andrea Arias and Ryleigh Freund. Highlands was on the short end of quality scoring chances, it nearly fell behind for the first time all season on a couple of occasions and it was cold; really, really cold. MORE...

NJSIAA GROUP 2 SEMIFINALS
• On last run, Glen Rock seniors carry Panthers to state final

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 finals
Waldwick seniors celebrate win over New Milford and section title

Waldwick's Ashley Ott.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

WALDWICK – Waldwick sweeper Ashley Ott remembers entering high school as a freshman with a lot to live up to. Her sister Jenn, also a sweeper, had just graduated the previous spring after leading Waldwick to a thrilling upset-laden run over the top three seeds and the program’s first section title in 13 years. The younger Ott felt her time would come sooner than rather than later. But without a section title since that magical 2008 season, Ashley Ott and the rest of her graduating class, now seniors, stepped onto the field on Tuesday against New Milford in the North 1, Group 1 final knowing that a loss would not only end their season but also their careers without the fulfilling feeling of being champions. Senior leadership proved to be a defining factor as Ott scored in the first half and fellow senior Michelle Figliuolo scored early in the second and second-seeded Waldwick finally earned its playoff trophy, the North 1, Group 1 section title, with a 2-1 triumph at New Milford High School. MORE...

NJSIAA NORTH 1, GROUP 3 FINALS
• Highlands extends winning streak to 46; wins another section title

NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 semifinals
Ramapo's dynamic duo comes through to down River Dell

Ramapo's Jen Andresen.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

FRANKLIN LAKES – One is heading for the Ivy League in two years and one will be on the field in the Big East at the start of next season. Ramapo junior Caroline Chagares (Harvard) and senior Jen Andresen (Rutgers) have nothing let to prove in terms of what they can do on the field individually, that has been long established. For this Green Raiders team it is about what they can do in tandem to help each other find space against quality defenses with a scouting report that usually reads something akin to “Stop Chagares and Andresen.” And while Chagares and Andresen were the focus of River Dell's defense on Friday in the North 1, Group 3 state sectional semifinals, there is no way to plan for a bounce of a ball and the elite players' ability to exploit it. When a clearance from the back landed in a pile and squirted free, Andresen saw her chance. She hit full stride in a hurry, took two dribbles right down the middle of the field and crushed line drive toward the right side of the net. MORE...

NJISAA Non-Public North A semifinals
IHA makes it three wins over DePaul and makes it to section final

IHA's Camile Didio.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – As the old adage goes, it is always tough to beat a team three times in the same season. But when one team outscores the other 9-0 in the two previous meetings, a one-goal lead in the third meeting should have felt like a safe one. But no lead is safe in a state tournament game Immaculate Heart Academy was more interested in building a larger advantage than trying to protect a slim one against DePaul on Thursday afternoon. Having played neck and neck with the favorite for most of the first half, DePaul was close to getting itself into the break down by just a goal with 40 minutes left to figure out a way to pull the upset. But one swing of the foot by Alex Mesropyan, a blast from the 18 with just 14 seconds left in the first half, gave IHA a two-goal cushion and some breathing room. Camille Didio added her second goal of the game in the second half as IHA, the No. 2 seed, earned a berth in the Non-Public North A final with a 3-0 win over sixth-seeded DePaul in Washington Township. MORE...

NJSIAA North 1, Group 1 playoffs
New Milford finally finds a way past Cresskill

New Milford's Lexy Monroy.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

NEW MILFORD – This year has been no different in the rivalry between the New Milford and Cresskill girls soccer teams. For the past four seasons it has been Cresskill always finding a way to beat the Lady Knights and usually running the offense through all-stater Ani Sarkisian to get the job done, which included a Cresskill victory just over a month ago in the latest chapter. However, the Knights were hoping to get another crack at some point in the state tournament and mentally geared themselves towards that opportunity. That opportunity came on Monday with the winner taking another step towards a section title and the loser watching their season come to an end. To put it bluntly, the Knights were simply tired of being kicked around by the same team year after year. That feeling was magnified for seniors Jennifer Teets and goalie Cassidy Rizza, who each had huge games defensively. Teets did a fantastic job shadowing Sarkisian and Rizza made several big saves to quell a comeback bid. Freshman Lexy Monroy had her hand in all three goals as top-seeded New Milford finally broke the hex with a 3-1 win over No. 8 seed Cresskill in a North 1, Group 1 quarterfinal match at New Milford High School. MORE...

NJSIAA North 1, Group 2 playoffs
Kinnelon ends Mahwah's season in penalty kicks

Mahwah keeper Aly Burns.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MAHWAH – Love, like or loath penalty kicks in a state tournament game, they are the only plausible way to decide a winner. After nearly 100 minutes of physical play, neither Mahwah nor Kinnelon could open even the slightest crack in the opposing defense until the final minute of the second overtime when a fantastic save by Aly Burns gave Mahwah a little bit of momentum going into the penalty kick shootout. Unfortunately, against a seasoned Kinnelon squad, led by keeper Nicole Schmitt, that momentum was quickly wrestled away. Schmitt made two saves and teammates Aoife Schanche, Danielle deTorres, and Theresa Vargo all made their attempts to lift fifth-seeded Kinnelon to a 1-0 (3-1 in PKs) triumph over fourth-seeded Mahwah on Saturday at Mahwah High School. “We practice penalty kicks every day and games like this are why you do it. You have to be as prepared as you can for this situation,” said Schmitt. “We worked our butts off to get in this position and we were as ready as we could be.” MORE...

NJSIAA North 1, Group 2 playoffs
Pascack Hills protects its lead over Lakeland

Pascack Hills' Lindsay Marella.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

MONTVALE – The Pascack Hills girls soccer team knows what can happen to a seemingly comfortable three-goal halftime lead in a first round state tournament game. Last season the Cowgirls were on the verge of being blown off their own home field when Newton opened a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes only to see Pascack Hills come all the way back to not only win, but did so with time to spare in regulation. This year Pascack Hills got a chance to see what it could do in the reverse role when it opened a three-goal spread on Lakeland in the opening round of the North 1, Group 2 state sectional tournament on Friday in Montvale. “Last year was definitely on my mind when we went up 3-0 at halftime,” said Pascack Hills head coach Scott Ernest. “We saw what could happen to a three-goal lead last year, so we knew we had to continue to work hard to protect it.” A whacky play 5:30 into the second half only added to Ernest's trepidation as it looked like another wild final 40 minutes might be in the offing. Lakeland had started to find some space going forward and earned a corner kick that was bent into the box by junior Danielle Stoll. As the ball hooked inside the six yard box and off an attacking player, Pascack Hills' Kylie Hunter was left in an unenviable position. MORE...

MORE GIRLS SOCCER COVERAGE!
• Late flurry of goals gets Park Ridge past Midland Park

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

NJSIAA North 1, Group 4 playoffs
Kearny handles the role of favorite in tourney win over PCT

Kearny's Nicole Kelly.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

KEARNY – Being a heavy favorite has both its advantages and its disadvantages heading into a state tournament game. The biggest advantage to being the favored team is not only has it been judged to have have the better team over the long haul of the regular season, but it also get to play on its own home field. The disadvantage is that the longer the game goes on without scoring a goal, the more the pressure mounts and the more the underdog squad will pack the box and play for penalty kicks. Kearny head coach Vin Almeida knew the dangers for his side all too well and drove that point home to his team that was up against an upstart Passaic County Tech team looking for a landmark win for its program. “The theme of what we talked about the past few days was that we had to get the first goal,” said Almeida. “Scoring first always eases things for the players, especially in a game against a team looking to pull an upset.” MORE...

MORE GIRLS SOCCER COVERAGE!
• The difference between Heights and Dover is two goals and more

NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 playoffs
Soccer resumes and Old Tappan advances past Passaic Valley

Old Tappan's Raba Nassif.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

OLD TAPPAN – It has been a trying week for everyone in North Jersey. Power outages, lines for gasoline, trees littering the roadways and a state tournament soccer schedule with more cross-outs than a Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle attempted in ink. As of Monday afternoon there was still no electricity at Northern Valley/Old Tappan High School, but it was time to play, finally, and the sun even made a cameo appearance when Old Tappan hosted Passaic Valley in the opening round of the North 1, Group 3 state sectional tournament. “It's been a while since we've played a game but soccer brought back a sense of normalcy for us all week. It was fun getting together and we would stay after a two hour practice just to stay out of our houses,” said Old Tappan senior captain Hannah LaFronz. “That helped because we all wanted to be there, we wanted to be out practicing rather than be home in the dark and we were really looking forward to playing today.” MORE...

Bergen County finals
'Throw in' another Bergen County title for Northern Highlands

Northern Highlands' Clare Shea.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

OAKLAND – Jackie Reyneke has stood out in a crowd from the time she first stepped on the soccer field as a freshman. Now as a 6-foot-3 senior, Reyneke has been widely known for having the longest throw-in of any player in New Jersey. When she was a freshman, her personal goals and team goals were similar. She wanted to get those long throws anywhere in the box and also be part of a successful team. These days, Reyneke has perfected pinpointing those restarts and her goal is not to be part of a successful team but to be a part of an on-going dynasty. On Sunday, she did her part to keep that legacy alive. Reyneke uncorked long throw-ins throughout the game and two of them ended up in the back of the net. Less than 10 minutes in, Madison Holleran headed one home and midway through the first half Clare Shea did the same as top-seeded Northern Highlands put on a dominating performance and defended its Bergen County crown with a 2-0 victory over third-seeded IHA in the Bergen County final at Indian Hills High School. MORE...

With a quick turnaround, Eastern Christian tops Hawthorne

Eastern Christian's Carly Veenstra.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

HAWTHORNE – After what Eastern Christian head Barry Veenstra called his team’s best game of the year, a 3-1 win over Rutherford on Wednesday, the Eagles had to bounce back less than 24 hours later in their final tune-up game before the state tournament. What might have looked on paper as an easy victory was anything but as Hawthorne showed how much it has improved over the course of the season and gave the Eagles everything they could handle. Bethany Kuiken scored midway through the second half and Carly Veenstra capped the scoring late as Eastern Christian won its second straight by the identical score of 3-1 on Thursday over the Lady Bears at Hawthorne High School. “I was afraid of a little letdown today after playing the day before and Hawthorne hustled the entire game, which gave us some trouble,” said Barry Veenstra. “It wasn’t pretty and Hawthorne always plays tough at home. But I’m happy we came fought our through it and came out the other side with a win.” MORE...

Waldwick tunes up for states with hard-fought win in Cresskill

Waldwick's Erin Archer.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

CRESSKILL – Playing a technically sound 80 minutes in a tune-up game before the state tournament is what every coach hopes for. But when that game happens to be a part of one of North Jersey’s best and most physical small school rivalries, just getting out of the game in one piece is a more realistic goal. Such was the case on Monday as Waldwick and Cresskill battled like two heavyweight fighters. Waldwick landed two knockdown punches in taking a two-goal lead and Cresskill answered back with some body shots of its own with two goals in a five-minute span to tie the game. The final result was going to come down to which made that one last hustle play and it was Waldwick sophomore Erin Archer who rose to the occasion. She split between a defender and the Cresskill keeper to pick off a cross, then volleyed it into the open net with 6:08 to play for the game-winner as Waldwick scored its second one-goal victory over Cresskill this season with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph at Cresskill High School. MORE...

Bergen County tournament
Highlands' 40th straight win comes against Glen Rock in semifinals

Northern Highlands keeper Brooke Holle.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

ORADELL – Over the course of the 39-game winning streak that Northern Highlands carried into Sunday's Bergen County Tournament semifinal, opponents have tried just about every approach to try to upend the Highlanders. Some teams have put 10 players behind the ball in attempt to pass the 80 minutes of regulation without incident in a futile search for a tie or, in the case of tournament play, a penalty kick shootout. Other teams have played the middle ground, to make the concession of a striker in order to clog the middle and look for counterattack opportunities that rarely presented themselves. But Glen Rock, which carried its own season-long 15-game winning streak into the semifinal match, went all out. The Panthers did not pull back. In fact, head coach Tracy Trobiano threw an extra forward out there. She went with three and with the approach that an underdog can't pull an upset if it can't score a goal. “That is why we are here. We came to play,” said Trobiano. “We came out with three forwards and at times we were dangerous.” MORE...

MORE GIRLS SOCCER COVERAGE!
• IHA tops Ramapo; wins one for a member of its family

In a marquee match-up, IHA hands Clifton its first loss

IHA's Erin Spillane.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Trying to get a shot past Clifton's Rachel Egyed can be like trying to shoot a spitball through a cinder block. Egyed is one of the state's best goaltenders, probably the best, and so it was a tough spot that the Immaculate Heart Academy girls soccer team found itself in when it was trailing by a goal with less than 20 minutes to go in the game on Thursday afternoon. Playing without top scorer Alex Mesropyan, who missed the game with illness, was not helping matters much either as the Eagles had to find a way to score and do it quickly. “[Egyed] is an outstanding goalkeeper, outstanding, and they play great team defense. We know because we have had such great battles with them in the last 15 years,” said IHA head coach Steve Silver. “They are just so organized. You could see when we had the ball at our feet two [defenders] always come, there is always help, and with [Egyed] in the back you can't serve a ball because she collects everything.” MORE...

Monday, October 15, 2012

Bergen County tournament
Ramapo's defense owns the day in shutout of Mahwah

Ramapo's Tori Woetzel.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

OAKLAND – Soccer can be a very complex game, it can also be a simple one. In order to win, a team has to score. In order to score, a team has to create offensive opportunities through corner kicks and shots. After a masterful offensive performance last week in a 4-0 upset over Paramus in the Bergen County Tournament’s Round of 16, Mahwah got the full attention of both the coaching staff and, more importantly, the back line of the of Ramapo, the Thunderbirds' next opponent in the quarterfinals on Sunday. The Green Raiders’ defense was intent on not allowing Mahwah’s front line to get off early the way it did last week against Paramus. The Ramapo defense not only achieved that goal, but it put together a dominant defensive performances against a quality opponent. Ramapo’s defense did not allow a shot or a corner kick over the entire 80 minutes. Jen Andresen scored a pretty goal midway through the first half and Caroline Chagares scored one of her own midway through the second as second-seeded Ramapo advanced to its customary spot in the Bergen County semifinals with a workman-like 2-0 quarterfinal victory over No. 10 Mahwah at Indian Hills High School in Oakland. MORE...

For a team that lost so much, Ramsey has lost so very little

Ramsey's Anna Jensen.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

MONTVALE – Last season the Ramsey girls soccer team got to show off two of the best goal scorers to ever come up through the ranks. The Rams rode Lexi Knief and Addie Jensen all the way to the Group 2 state championship. But with both of them now Division 1 collegiate athletes, Ramsey has used this season to show off the depth of program, not only on the high school level, but on the lower rungs of the ladder that is now consistently delivering varsity ready players. Its why, in the year after Knief and Jensen have moved on, the Rams have barely given any ground. They are still alive for a league championship, they are still alive in the Bergen County Tournament heading into this weekend's quarterfinal round and they will be the defending Group 2 state champions until some one finds away to beat them, which has happened just once so far this season. After Wednesday's come-from-behind, 3-1 win on the road against Pascack Hills, Ramsey's record stood at 11-1-1. MORE...

Bergen County tournament
Dideo's exhausting day ends with double overtime goal against PV

IHA's Taylor Lupi.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Even though her team was about to play a huge county tournament game, IHA’s Camille Didio was already exhausted. After a red-eye flight following a college visit, she had to get off the plane, hop into a uniform and go against one of Bergen County’s top defenses in Pascack Valley. As the teams battled through regulation and through an overtime period, Didio’s exhaustion turned to frustration as she missed a pair of scoring opportunities in the second half and the game seemed destined for a dreaded round of penalty kicks. Didio knew she had to dig deep and hope that she would get one more opportunity to find the back of the net. When that chance finally came and when Didio finally got the ball in space, she knew exactly what to do with it. She whistled a shot through traffic and just inside the left post with 3:45 remaining in the second overtime as third-seeded IHA survived with a 1-0 victory over No. 14 seed Pascack Valley in a Bergen County Tournament Round of 16 game. MORE...

Highlands up to its old tricks in latest win over Ramapo

Northern Highlands' Clare Shea.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

ALLENDALE – For a side that has used its organization and overall shape to fashion a perfect 2011 season that has extended into the first month of this one, the Northern Highlands girls soccer team sure does thrive amongst chaos. Whether it is a Jackie Reyneke long-throw in creating havoc in the opposing penalty area, a Hana Kerner bullrush drawing defender after defender in the fray or goalkeeper Brooke Holle coming out into a crowd, knees high, to pick off a cross, the Highlanders are at their best when they are creating contact and then running through it. How to stop the Highlanders' wealth of options is anyone's guess. They have not lost a game in nearly 23 months and have now beaten Ramapo, their closest competitor, fiercest rival and perhaps the second best team in the state, six straight times including Wednesday's 3-1 win in Allendale. “We have so many threats. If they mark one person another person is going to be open,” said Highlands senior midfielder Clare Shea. “There are too many of us.” MORE...

Monday, October 1, 2012

Bergen County tournament
Just one time, the ball bounces Pascack Valley's way

Pascack Valley's Kelsey Witt.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

HILLSDALE – When it was 10 field players against 10 field players, Pascack Valley had all of the advantage in its match against Dumont on Saturday in the opening round of the Bergen County Girls Soccer Tournament. The Indians had an overwhelming advantage in possession; they were making the connection between their midfield and their three strikers time and time again. There was only problem…well, maybe two. First off, Dumont was playing with 10-and-a-half field players as it used goalkeeper Gina Yanette as a glorified sweeper. The only Husky who could use her hands played the ball just as often with her feet, racing out to clear away through balls that were coming at a rapid clip. The second problem was that even though it had every advantage within the field of play, Pascack Valley had no goals and no advantage on the scoreboard through 46 minutes and 24 seconds. “It’s the story of our season right there. You just saw it,” said Pascack Valley head coach Amy Lombardo. “Finishing…just the ball hasn’t bounced our way. It’s been one of those seasons, we’ve just been struggling to finish.” MORE...

Ridgewood plays the angles in shutout of Old Tappan

Ridgewood's Jaqui Roth.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

OLD TAPPAN – While it was decidedly at a disadvantage in the possession game, especially in the first half, against Northern Valley/Old Tappan on Monday afternoon, Ridgewood was by no means in a defensive panic. The Maroons many not have had the ball as much as they might have liked, but they were certainly not ceding the prime ground in the places where the Old Tappan attack is at it most effective. Ridgewood's was a measured approach designed to keep the Golden Knights and their top scorer, Raba Nasif, out of the middle of the field. There were some shaky moments, but Ridgewood got out of the first half unscathed despite being outshot 6-2 over the first 40 minutes. “We were trying to force them across the field at all times and trying to deny them the center of the field. That was our gameplan,” said Ridgewood head coach Jeff Yearing. “We had a few breakdowns, but at halftime we made a few adjustments and became more compact because in the first half they found a couple of seams.” MORE...

Glen Rock steps up in competition, walks away with a win

Glen Rock's Sophie Lederer.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

ORADELL – It seems like every year when the Bergen County Girls Soccer Tournament comes around there is one spot open in the semifinal round. With Northern Highlands, Ramapo and Immaculate Heart Academy usually taking up the top three lines in the bracket and then following it up with deep tournament runs, there is usually a mad dash between a bunch of teams vying to be the final member of the Final 4. Two such contenders, Glen Rock and River Dell, met up on Saturday in Oradell in what was probably an elimination match for the No. 4 seed with the seeding meeting right around the corner. Both teams came in unbeaten, but both have taken different paths in their starts to the season. River Dell has played a bear of a schedule through the first three weeks, while Glen Rock was still relatively untested and looking to see where it stood against quality opposition. So while the higher seed will likely go to the winner, just getting a good match in was more important to Glen Rock head coach Tracy Trobiano. MORE...

Nowak and Lyndhurst get back on track against Queen of Peace

Lyndhurst's Amanda Nowak.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

LYNDHURST – After a 2-0 loss on Monday night to bitter rival Hasbrouck Heights, the Lyndhurst girls soccer team, as a whole, was crushed and as frustrated as anyone was junior Amanda Nowak. After the leading the team in goals as a sophomore last year she had scored only once in the first four games this season. With the Golden Bears facing another test on Wednesday in undefeated Queen of Peace, Lyndhurst head coach Kim Hykey shuffled the formation a little but, moving Nowak up front to try to spark the player and the offense in general. The move paid immediate dividends as Nowak netted first career hat trick as both she and Lyndhurst got back on track with a 3-1 triumph at Riverside County Park. “We wanted to get the loss to Heights out of our minds. The best way to do that was to start fast,” said Hykey. “We wanted to beat Heights bad, but in the end it did not have too much of an effect on our season. They aren’t in our league or in our section, so we had to put it behind us.” MORE...

This season starting to look like last season at Northern Highlands

Northern Highlands' Hana Kerner.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

FRANKLIN LAKES – On its way to as good a season as any North Jersey girls soccer team ever had and as good as any could have, Northern Highlands had to beat Ramapo, its archrival, every step of the way. It took a sweep of the regular season series to secure a league title, it took a win in the Bergen County Tournament final to clinch a county championship and another win over the Green Raiders’ in the North 1, Group 3 state sectional tournament to get to what turned out to be an undefeated season that also included the outright Group 3 state crown, a No. 1 state ranking and national recognition. To turn and do it all over again this year, Northern Highlands will have to travel a similar road and the first stop was on Saturday evening in Franklin Lakes for Round 1 of what will likely be another four round fight for championships. Judges’ scorecards were not necessary. Northern Highlands (4-0) scored the first goal of the game and then the final two of the first half to take control on the way to 4-1 win on Ramapo’s home field. MORE...

Paramus Catholic holds off Old Tappan's charge

Paramus Catholic's Delaney Suarez.

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

PARAMUS – With a hard-fought overtime win over DePaul on Monday and its other game of the season coming against IHA, Paramus Catholic's girls soccer team has already been through the ringer just a week into the new campaign. Old Tappan, on the other hand, had yet to be tested having scored a combined 13 goals in its first two games. PC is already battle tested and now Old Tappan can say the same. In a game with the intensity to match a county tournament contest, with two yellow cards handed out and some chirping thrown in, Paramus Catholic overcame an early deficit and then held off Old Tappan in the final 10 minutes as it threw everything and everyone into the box for an entertaining 2-1 victory on Wednesday afternoon. “The thing I was most impressed with was the we held our composure through a lot of what was going on on the field. They forced us to defend like crazy at the end, but our kids did it,” said Paramus Catholic head coach Bill McPartland. MORE...

Waldwick turns the tables on Midland Park

Waldwick's Kristina Fazo.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MIDLAND PARK – That feeling of utter disbelief on a November afternoon last season is one that neither senior Nicole Van Dyke nor junior Kristina Fazo will ever forget. That was when Midland Park stunned favored Waldwick on its own home field to end the Warriors' season and their hopes of a section title in one fell swoop. So when what was supposed to be Waldwick’s season-opening game against Park Ridge was cancelled on Friday, the Warriors were not particularly upset. The postponement meant that Waldwick's opener would now come against Midland Park and a chance at revenge was right in front of them to start the season. Waldwick wasted little time in making a statement that this was a new year. Fazo scored twice in the first 18 minutes of the game and Van Dyke netted one late in the first half as Waldwick never looked back and cruised to a 5-0 triumph on Monday at Midland Park High School. MORE...

MORE GIRLS SOCCER COVERAGE!
• New look Dumont opens with a win at Cliffside Park

Pascack Hills wins opener over Mahwah

Pascack Hills' Brianna Musco.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

MAHWAH – This ain't college football. For the Pascack Hills and Mahwah girls soccer teams, there was no cupcake on the Opening Day schedule that would allow them to ease into the new season. Nope, these two teams, who can both be considered contenders for state sectional titles in North 1, Group 2, hit the ground running when they opened the season against each other on Friday afternoon. “We knew this game was going to be the one to tell us where we are at real quick,” said Pascack Hills head coach Scott Ernest. “We had some scrimmages where we played some physical teams and I did that because I knew that Mahwah was going to get after us and I did not want that to come as a shock to our kids on the first day of the season.” Mahwah certainly carried the play, especially early, and took a lead 14 minutes into the game, but Pascack Hills never blinked. Biding its time until it could counter attack and turning its looks at goal into dangerous chances, the Cowgirls hung in there and their patience finally paid off. MORE...

Rutgers' fast start has a North Jersey flavor

Former Dwight-Englewood star Rachel Cole is now playing at Rutgers.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

PISCATAWAY – At this time last year Jessica Janosz and Rachel Cole could only dream about what it would be like to play significant minutes on the Division 1 level. Cole was entering her senior season at Dwight-Englewood and Janosz was a waiting out her second straight season as a backup goalkeeper at Rutgers University, a solid team looking to take the program to the next level. Now two weeks into the 2012 season in New Brunswick, both Janosz and Cole have made a significant impact as Rutgers has started the season with a 4-0 record for the first time since 2007 and has vaulted into the NSCAA national poll as the No. 16 ranked team in the country. Cole came in with a lot of fanfare after a stellar career both at Dwight-Englewood, where she earned first-team all-state honors as a senior by leading the state with 50 goals and finishing with 135 in her four years, and on the club circuit. The speed and physicality of the collegiate game on the Division 1 level has been an adjustment for Cole thus far, but her craftiness both with and without the ball has helped her secure a starting role and she is currently third on the team in shots. Despite her success on the high school level, it took just one day for Cole to realize how quickly she needed to elevate her game. MORE...