SP-F Girls Soccer Team Falls to Mendham

A season that included far more highs than lows most likely came to a conclusion for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood girls' soccer team Thursday afternoon as the Raiders were upended by visiting Mendham 2-0 in a North 2, Group 3 quarterfinal at Shimme A. Wexler Field at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School.

The sixth-seeded Minutemen received goals from Jamie Hofstetter with five minutes left in the first half and from Paige Russell on a counter-attack with five minutes remaining in the second.

Third-seeded Scotch Plains, which began play in the section with a 5-0 home win over 14th-seeded Warren Hills Tuesday, had the better of the field position play in the second half, but could not register a dangerous shot on goal.

When the Raiders were still down 1-0 in the second half, Mendham junior goalkeeper Robin Chernow dropped a corner kick, with the ball getting past her and hitting the left post.

That was really as close as Scotch Plains came to scoring in the second half, although the Raiders were able to amount offensive pressure at times during the final 40 minutes — or at least more offensive pressure than Mendham generated.

"You have to put the ball in the net to win," Scotch Plains head coach Kevin Ewing said. "We didn't do that and they did."

Scotch Plains had a quality shot on goal taken by Devon Daly 11 minutes into the match that was saved with two hands by Chernow after a corner kick was taken.

Standout Raider junior goalie Paige DellaBadia made a nice save of a shot taken by Mendham's Nicole Graziano 12 minutes later. Graziano earned an assist on her team's first goal and Carley Horan on the second.

Scotch Plains sophomore forward Sarah Vanbuskirk hit a strong header that went over the crossbar one minute after Graziano's shot that DellaBadia saved.

In an attempt to reach the ball and try to push it past Chernow in the second half, Scotch Plains forward Erin Pierce made contact with Chernow, who was shaken up on the play. Chernow came out for a brief time after getting hit in the leg, but came back in less than a minute later to finish the shutout.

On really the only true Minutemen shot of the second half, Russell was able to gain control of the ball and quickly pushed a shot past DellaBadia, who came up to challenge her at the top of the penalty box.

Chernow made eight saves and DellaBadia finished with six.

"We just didn't finish when we had our shots," Ewing said. "I think they had a tough time covering Sarah Canfield up top, defensively. Other kids didn't finish for us and they have a very good midfield and they did a good job." 

Scotch Plains fell to 16-3-1, while Mendham will take a 12-6-1 record into its semifinal game on Tuesday. The sectional final is next Thursday at the higher seed. 

Evie Klotz, Jackie Mains, Pierce, Gabby Vacca and Vanbuskirk scored in the win over Warren Hills, with assists going to Canfield (2), Mains, Lisa Matrale and Lauren Rosenthal. Goalies DellaBadia and Meghan Allen, who each made two saves, combined for the shutout.

Scotch Plains and Mendham have faced each other before in the North 2, Group 3 playoffs, including last year when the second-seeded Raiders won at the top-seeded Minutemen 4-1 in the final.

After capturing the section last year with its win at Mendham, Scotch Plains was downed by Ramapo 1-0 in a Group 3 semifinal.

Although there were no county or sectional championships gained this year, the Raiders still produced a fine season and posted one of the best records in the county once again, something they can be proud of.

2009 SCOTCH PLAINS GIRLS' SOCCER:

9-Delia McGee

14-Ally Prestridge

15-Sarah Canfield

6-Devon Daly

10-Kathryn Dinizo

17-Lauren Rosenthal

25-Nicole Vacca

4-Morgan Burke

13-Cassie Zito

20-Emily Nagourney

21-Avika Shah

8-Claudia Falconieri

2-Gabby Vacca

22-Evie Klotz

16-Melanie Rome

GK-Paige DellaBadia

3-Sarah Vanbuskirk

5-Jackie Mains

24-Avia Shadmi

12-Lisa Matrale

GK-Meghan Allen

7-Erin Pierce

23-Julie Glover

11-Christine Miklas

GK-Taylor Sebolao