Paramus Girls' Season Ends With Tourney Loss to Northern Highlands

ALLENDALE—The Paramus girls' soccer team was eliminated from the state tournament Tuesday, falling to Northern Highlands, 2-1, ending the Spartans' season.

The loss capped off a historic 18-win season for Paramus, the highest win total in school history.

The Spartans (18-4) squared off against the Highlanders (19-2-1) for the second straight year in the North 1, Group 3 state tournament. Northern Highlands defeated the Spartans in the tournament final last year. The Spartans also suffered their first loss of the 2010 season to Northern Highlands, 3-0, last month.

Tuesday's match was marked by its physicality, as both teams committed numerous fouls, though no one was booked.

"It was a back and forth game," Paramus head coach Vic DiPasquale said. "The short span where Northern Highlands scored was the difference in the game."

All of the scoring took place during the first 30 minutes. Paramus, the tournament's third seed, took an early lead in the 17^thminute, but conceded two quick goals to seal their tournament fate.

The Spartans scored off a corner kick taken by Lauren Fiorino. Sophomore forward Sarah Cortes met the ball with her head, scoring her team-leading 21^st goal of the season.

A minute later, Northern Highlands leveled the score when Madison Holleran netted the equalizer.

The second-seeded Highlanders found the back of the net again when Paramus keeper Alex Garey couldn't come up with a loose ball cleanly. Valerie Sydnor followed up and passed the ball into the goal.

The Spartans created offensive opportunities but had trouble putting their chances away.

"The opportunities were there—we just fell a little bit short," DiPasquale said. "Too many of our chances were over the top or off to the side."

The Spartans had a chance to tie the game when a penalty kick was given for a handball by a Highlander defender in her own penalty area.

Megan Lannigan took the kick and struck it to the right, but Caroline Broder, the Highlanders' keeper, made a diving save.

DiPasquale said Lannigan was his best choice to take the penalty kick, even though the senior forward was not feeling well.

"I knew she would be the one up there," DiPasquale said. "We live and die with her."

The Spartans played the final minutes with urgency, but the Highlander defense prevented Paramus from tying the game.

"We needed to match their toughness," DiPasquale said. "We gave it our best, but we fell short."