'Heck of a Ride' Ends for Parsippany in Final

The girls soccer team lost 1-0 to Madison Thursday in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 championship game. A tough and tight game on both sides of the ball, the difference was a lone goal in the second half by Madison's Caroline Zimmerman.

Madison (15-4-1)

IN SHORT

In the 23rd minute of the second half, Zimmerman took a Melissa Joubert pass through the Parsippany defense and made a hard shot into the goal, breaking the scoreless tie. It would be the game's only score.

The game was solid by both teams and each had its opportunities to score throughout the game. Late in the second half, Parsippany had its best opportunity with a bouncing ball in the penalty area. Madison goalkeeper Meg Calcaterra had Tiffany Kelly of Parsippany behind her, facing the goal trying to get a solid foot on the ball and teammate Rebecca Levin on the goal side trying to clear the ball. Calcaterra was able to get her hands on it and make the save.

RED HAWK OF THE GAME

Tiffany Kelly, forward—Kelly put a great deal of pressure on the Madison defense and goalkeeper including a solid opportunity late in the game.

THEY SAID IT

"Madison put the ball in and we didn't. This doesn't take anything away from the effort these girls have been putting in all year. It has been a heck of a ride. This girls have been through so much with injuries and people have stepped up.  A JV player or a position change. They did whatever was asked. I have two players in the starting lineup that didn't start playing until their sophomore year of high school.  It is a tribute to these girls and the hard work they put in and they deserve to come as far as they did.  We knew Catherine Zimmerman was tough and we knew they had a solid defense.  They proved they can hold a 1-0 lead and they did it for the last 20 minutes."—Parsippany head coach Greg Cleary.