Championship Game

The Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls intercounty team used the same formula from their opening round playoff victory to avenge their only loss of the year and defeat Rahway in penalty kicks 4-3 to win the league championship at cold and damp Rahway Field in Rahway, Saturday November 20.

Although the result and method was the same, the regulation game could not have been different. Unlike two weeks ago, when they dominated, only to lose their lead late, the Sharks, 5-0 losers in their previous battle with Rahway, adopted a defensive strategy
but still trailed 1-0 late in the second half when Kara Gaynor converted Emily Cohen’s corner kick to tie the game after McKenna had kept the Sharks in the game with several acrobatic saves. After a scoreless sudden death overtime period, the teams went into a penalty kick shootout.

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After falling behind 1-0, Rebecca DiGiacomo drew the Sharks even with a well-placed shot in the corner. After Rahway scored again, Lauren Berk, one of the scorers against South Mountain connected again with a high, hard shot. McKenna made a good catch on a hard shot Erin Brown, who scored the clincher against South Mountain delivered another left footed cannon that gave the goalie no chance. When McKenna saved Rahway’s fifth shot, the Sharks mobbed their goalie and carried her on their shoulders.

Game 9- South Mountain

Only three weeks after they had won their most significant game of the season,
the Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls intercounty team returned to the scene of that triumph to play an even bigger game Saturday. In a near instant replay of the
4-0 triumph of October 23, the Sharks once again used two first half goals and sparkling defense and goal keeping to shutout the Mountainside Cosmos 3-0 on a cold blustery day at Sheffield School, Mountainside. The victory moves Scotch Plains into the championship game November 20 against the winner of Rahway-Clark. Mountainside dropped to 8-2-1, their only losses to Scotch Plains.

Jessica DiGiacomo, elusive again with her dribbling and passing, gave the Sharks the only goal they would need when her hard shot over a maze of players was deflected into the goal. Alyssa Young added some insurance with a hard shot from short range and in the second half, Erin Brown provided the clincher with a thundering blast from ten yards.

Melissa McKenna was once again brilliant in goal, making several diving stops and vocally leading the defense. Other contributors included Lauren Berk, Amanda Rodriguez, Jessica Feeley, Kara Gaynor, Sarah Weber, Toni Ann Capece, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Sarah Lazarus and Desli DeMarsico.

Game 8-South Mountain

On the verge of an excruciating loss that would have ended their hopes for a championship, the Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls intercounty team summoned up one hero after another in the gathering darkness and survived a penalty kick shootout 4-3 against the overmatched but determined South Mountain Giants. Sunday at Upper Terrill
Field in Scotch Plains.

The victory sends the Sharks into the semi final round of the playoffs where they will meet Mountainside at an undetermined date. After dominating most of the game, Scotch Plains had to settle for a tenuous 1-0 lead on an early goal by Amanda Rodriguez. The Giants converted one of their few chances to knot the game in the final three minutes and after a scoreless sudden death overtime period, the loss of sunlight forced the teams into a penalty kick shootout.

After falling behind 1-0, Rodriguez drew the Sharks even and then goalie Melissa McKenna made an incredible diving save to set the stage for kicks by Lauren Berk and the clincher by Erin Brown, a left footed whistler that would have challenged any goalie.

Other contributors included Jessica DiGiacomo, Jessica Feeley, Alyssa Young, Kara Gaynor, Sarah Weber, Toni Ann Capece, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Sarah Lazarus and Desli DeMarsico

Game 7-Soccerfest

A change of venue did nothing to resolve the stalemate in the battle for Scotch Plains U12 Girls bragging rights. The Blue Sharks and The Bombers, who had played a scoreless tie three weeks ago, had a repeat performance, Saturday at Soccerfest at St. Josephs of Metuchen and the result assured both teams would have extra trick or treat time on Halloween as it eliminated them from the championship round contested on October 31.

The Blue Sharks had won their opener as Amanda Rodriguez fed a wide-open Sarah Weber in front of the net with three minutes left to edge Clark 1-0. Melissa McKenna was flawless in goal, making several fine saves. McKenna was rarely tested in the second match as the Sharks dominated play but were unable to pierce the Bombers’ goal. Danielle Schweizer blocked Sarah Lazarus’ point blank attempt in the final minutes to preserve the tie on a damp, raw day that had most of the Scotch Plains’ spectators huddled under blankets.

Other contributors included Alyssa Young, Kara Gaynor, Toni Ann Capece, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Erin Brown, Jessica Feeley, Jessica DiGiacomo, Lauren Berk and Desli DeMarsico. The Sharks 6-1-1 and third in league play begin their playoff quest Saturday.

Game 6-Mountainside

Two early goals set the tone and two late ones provided the exclamation points as the Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls intercounty team played its finest game of the year in winning its most significant game, a 4-0 whitewashing of the previously undefeated Mountainside Cosmos Saturday at Sheffield School, Mountainside. Both teams are now 6-12-1 and could meet again next Saturday at Soccerfest at St Josephs Metuchen.

The Sharks belied the early 9 am start on a chilly late October morning by bursting from the gate quickly. Their persistence was rewarded when Amanda Rodriguez picked up a loose ball and adeptly fired in a low shot from 10 yards. Minutes later Erin Brown converted on a high hard direct kick over the defensive wall. The goalie was unable to hold onto the wet ball and it was 2-0 where it stayed for the almost the entire game.

Goalie Melissa McKenna was generally untested but came up big by batting away a Mountainside shot midway through the second half. Jessica DiGiacomo, brilliant all day with her dribbling and passing was nearly rewarded but her breakaway shot was saved. Two minutes later she would not be denied, converting another breakaway. Jessica Feeley, in just her third game back from injuries scored her third goal to complete the victory.

Other contributors included Alyssa Young, Kara Gaynor, Sarah Weber, Toni Ann Capece, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Sarah Lazarus and Desli DeMarsico.

Game 5-Cranford-Kenilworth

Only the Yankees scored more than the Scotch Plains Blue Sharks on the third weekend of October. With the coldest winds of the season blowing both days, the U12 Girls intercounty team exploded for 13 goals in running their record to 5-1-1 with a 6-0 home victory over Kenilworth on Saturday and a 7-1 triumph at Cranford, Sunday.

Continuing their season long balance the Sharks received scoring from six different players on Saturday and ten in the two days. When Jessica Feeley, scored twice on Sunday in only her second game after being injured, it meant that all sixteen players on the team had at least one goal. The Sharks have outscored their opposition 25-6.

For the record the Saturday goal scorers in order were Rebecca DiGiacomo, Alyssa Young, Erin Brown, Lauren Berk, Toni Ann Capece and Sarah Weber. Weber and Young filled in for regular goalies Melissa McKenna and Kara Gaynor.

The Sunday scorers were Lauren Buckley, Feeley twice, McKenna, Jessica DiGiacomo and Rebecca DiGiacomo twice. McKenna returned to share goalie duties with Young.

Also contributing were defensive players Amanda Rodriguez, Sarah Lazarus, Desli DeMarsico and Emily Cohen.

Game 4 Scotch Plains

The battle for Scotch Plains U12 Girls intercounty bragging rights ended inconclusively Saturday as the Scotch Plains Blue Sharks and the Scotch Plains White Tigers battled to a 0-0 tie Saturday at sun drenched School One Field. The tie, the Sharks’ third straight shutout, makes their record 3-1-1.

Melissa McKenna cam up with a strong effort in goal abetted by a stingy defense which kept chances to a minimum. The White Tigers were led by Danielle Schweizer and Laura Bruce who provided strong defense.

Many of the Blue Sharks played multiple positions so it easier to list them by name instead of position.

Jessica DiGiacomo, Amanda Rodriguez, Alyssa Young, Kara Gaynor, Sarah Weber, Erin Brown, Toni Ann Capece Lauren Berk, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Sarah Lazarus and Desli DeMarsico all played key roles in giving the Blue Sharks the advantage throughout the game in every aspect except the scoreboard.

Game 3 South Mountain

The Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls Intercounty soccer team exhibited some dazzling offense early in the game and then relied on an airtight defense to win their second straight game a 2-0 whitewashing of the South Mountain Giants Sunday at Flood’s Field in South Orange. The victory improves their record to 3-1 and was their third shutout in four games.

Ten minutes into the game Jessica DiGiacomo brilliantly beat three defenders before unselfishly feeding a wide open Amanda Rodriguez who calmly struck a well placed shot into the nearly empty goal for her team leading third goal. Ten minutes later Alyssa Young beat two defenders to a loose ball in front of the net and connected with a hard low shot.

The remainder of the game was dominated by the defenses. Once again Melissa McKenna and Kara Gaynor shared goal-keeping duties and were flawless.

With a versatile group of players it is easier to list the remainder instead of placing them by positions. Sarah Weber,. Erin Brown, Toni Ann Capece Lauren Berk, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Sarah Lazarus and Desli DeMarsico
all played key roles.

Game 2 South Mountain

The Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls Intercounty soccer team bounced back strongly from their first defeat of the season with a strong all around effort to dispatch the South Mountain Blue Dolphins 4-0 on Sunday, September 26 at School One Scotch Plains.
As in their opening victory over New Providence, the Blue Sharks got scoring from four different players and also received solid goal keeping and defense.

Sarah Weber started the scoring taking a loose ball near the left side of the goal and unleashing a well placed left footed shot from about 10 yards. Erin Brown, a natural left footed player, also scored from the left side with a higher harder left footed shot from 20 yards to increase the margin to 2-0 before halftime.

Although they enjoyed a large territorial advantage, the Sharks couldn’t feel totally comfortable until Sarah Lazarus hit a right-footed shot into the opposite post from a difficult angle midway through the second half. Amanda Rodriguez, who was brilliant in numerous positions, completed the scoring with her second goal of the year a short boot with her right foot that never got airborne but was perfectly placed. Lazarus, Brown and Rodriguez share the team scoring lead with two goals apiece.

Melissa McKenna and Kara Gaynor shared goal-keeping duties and were flawless.
In addition to the aforementioned scorers Lauren Berk, Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Jessica DiGiacomo, Rebecca DiGiacomo, Annie Rubin, Alyssa Young and Desli DeMarsico were instrumental in advancing the ball and defending against any counterattacks.

Game 1 New Providence

The Scotch Plains Blue Sharks U12 Girls Intercounty soccer team hardly looked like a team that had barely practiced. Showing midseason form in their season opener, the Sharks got scoring from six different players to overwhelm New Providence on Sunday, September 12 at School One Scotch Plains.

Amanda Rodriguez got the scoring parade started when she hit a hard left footed shot from short range. Annie Rubin made it 2-0 when she stole a pass and dribbled in to beat the goalie. Erin Brown hit a hard high shot from about 15 yards to make it 3-0 and Sarah Lazarus also used her left foot to score with a high hard shot from short range. Alyssa Young converted with a low hard shot and Desli DeMarsico completed the rout with a goal on a nice low shot that padded the lead before the first half ended.

The defense led by goalie Melissa McKenna and sweeper Lauren Berk was able to keep New Providence off the scoreboard. With a big lead, the Blue sharks were able to liberally substitute throughout the second half and played more of a possession game to limit any attempts of a comeback.

In addition to the aforementioned scorers Lauren Buckley, Emily Cohen, Jessica DiGiacomo , Rebecca DiGiacomo Toni-Ann Capece, Kara Gaynor and Sarah Weber were instrumental in advancing the ball and defending against any counterattacks.