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