Last-Second Goal Lifts Wall Girls Soccer To State Championship

UNION, NJ — The Wall Township High School girls soccer team had to work overtime, but chances are they'd say it was worth it: the Crimson Knights are the state Group 2 champions.

Wall beat Westwood 4-3 on a goal with 20 seconds left in overtime to win the NJSIAA Group 2 title, its first outright championship and second in a row.

A direct kick from about 40 yards out by Hailee Reinhardt glanced off the head of a Westwood defender and out of the reach of Westwood goalkeeper Camryn Collova, who was under fire much of the game from the Crimson Knights and finished with 12 saves, according to NJ.com.

Wall (24-1-2) took a 2-0 lead less than halfway through the first half and appeared to be ready to dominate the game, which was broadcast online on the NFHS Network.

Sarah Gordon put home a rebound of a shot from Lauren Karabin in the fifth minute for the 1-0 lead, then Lauren's twin sister, Jenna, drilled a shot past Collova in the 16th minute.

As Wall continued to bring pressure, Westwood (18-2-3) stiffened on defense, and Collova shut the door, coming up with several spectactular saves to keep the ball out of the net. The Westwood defense began doubling up on Lauren Karabin on the outside and clogging the penalty area, preventing Wall from getting off quality shots, despite a steady stream of corner kicks. According to the NFHS announcers, Wall wound up with a dozen corner kicks to just one for Westwood.

Lucie Gehringer scored on a penalty kick for Westwood after a push was called in the box in the 22nd minute. Then Westwood tied it 10 minutes later as a pair of Wall defenders collided, allowing Sarah Levy room to slip a shot past Wall goalkeeper Jordan Cheche.

Westwood took a 3-2 lead in the second half when Meghan Riedel dropped a shot under the crossbar in the 47th minute. Wall kept knocking, but Collova kept answering the challenges until the 60th minute, when Gordon made the Westwood defense pay for leaving her unmarked in the box, putting home a pass from Lauren Karabin.

The Group 2 championship makes it a sweep of titles for Wall, which won the Shore Conference Class B North division title, the Shore Conference Tournament championship, and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 2 championship.

See the winning goal here:

Photo by Wall Township Athletic Department