Ever since the upset at Red Bulls Stadium at the beginning of the month, Scotch Plains has longed for a chance to take back the title they deserve.
“I think it’ll be a competitive match, especially since it’s getting closer to the finals,” SPFHS varsity girls soccer player Shae Trenery told the Fanscotian.
In the first half of the match the girls were definitely picking up their tempo of play compared to when they’d played in Red Bulls stadium in early October. There was a noticeable difference in the level of energy out on the field, showing that in their hearts, the team wanted a win tonight.
“We’ve been working on playing quicker and switching the field, and we’re going to try to use those strategies to help us win tonight,” Trenery said.
There was a pretty even amount of possession of the ball. The girls disrupted plays and worked back to defend after making mistakes.
In the twelfth minute of the first half, Summit managed to take the lead in the game, crashing the goal and incorporating themselves in a way that would effectively disrupt the organization between the three SPF defenders. The ball smashed the back of the net, creating a start no one expected based on how well they’d been playing in the first few minutes. They finished off the half strong by taking chances on the ball when they got them, growing closer and closer to evening the score.
Just when the game couldn’t get more competitive, it did. Both teams created smart plays, ones that were dangerous to handle.
In the 16th minute of the second half, SPFHS captain Jasmine Gutierrrez took an amazing corner kick just threatening enough to throw off the Summit defense. Bodies tumbled over more bodies, grasping to get a foot on the ball.
When it bounced out towards the eighteen-yard box, right defender Lia Passucci smacked it back towards the direction of the goal. The ball hit off the top corner of the post, just close enough to send the crowd in a wave of disbelief. Left wing Alexa LaRosa and captain Sara Lehman both took shots off the rebound but neither landed it in the back of the net before it rolled out of bounds.
The energy in the stands rose as they watched the team work together to make quick decisions with the ball glued to their feet. They easily found one another in tight, high-pressure situations, taking chances when they got them.
With 5 ½ minutes left, Summit found a gap between the defenders and took advantage of the situation. The ball was passed perfectly to the feet of their offensive player and she took a shot through the split of the defense and over the head of the SPF keeper Joslyn Odom. The play happened so quickly that it was nearly impossible to save and left the stands silent. The girls kept their head up during the remaining 5 minutes putting their best effort in, fighting until the last whistle.
For the eleven seniors, this game was the last time they’d be competing in the tournament, however, the regular season still remains with a few more games. The team tried their best for a chance to compete in the finals, but unfortunately ended up unlucky.
