Second-Half Surge Leads Eagles Girls' Soccer to Playoff Win

By failing to fully capitalize on 40 dominant minutes of soccer, the girls' soccer team left open the possibility of some drama in the second half of its playoff opener against Buena.

It never got beyond a possibility, though, and that's just the way the Eagles like it.

No. 3 West Deptford scored four unanswered goals in the second half to pull away in a 6-1 win over No. 13 Buena in the first round of the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 2 playoffs Monday afternoon at .

The Eagles thoroughly outplayed the Chiefs in the first half, but were unable to capitalize on many of their opportunities, as shots clanked off the posts or went wide or high, and clung to a 2-1 lead at the break.

At halftime they were reminded of the type of soccer they are capable of playing, and the team responded by punching its ticket to the second round where No. 5 Pemberton waits.

Pemberton defeated No. 12 Willingboro, 4-1.

“Our coaches were talking to us (at halftime) and telling us to step it up, and we thought as a team that we should be scoring more,” said senior Regina Kelly. “We put some passes together and started getting goals.”

In typical West Deptford fashion, the goal-scoring was spread out. Kelly, Paige Paratore, Kristina Furfari, Megan Sullivan, Lily Kalczewski and Jamie Cary each found the back of the net, while Alica Barger made a couple of standout saves to secure the win.

“We work as a team, not as individuals,” Paratore said. “We try to get everyone to score.”

The Eagles have made a habit of spreading the wealth this year, pointing out how difficult it is to defend them.

“From the defense to the offense, we can switch anyone, anywhere,” Kelly said. “That helps to give us more options on the field. When it comes to scoring, people just try to finish.”

The West Deptford midfield was in control throughout the game. It was the type of performance where 50-50 balls would be more accurately described as 90-10, with the Eagles winning pretty much every ball that went into the air. The midfield moved the ball with ease for much of the second half, stringing together passes and connecting on through-balls with little problem.

“We got more possession in the second half because our coaches told us to step it up again in the second half,” Kelly said. “We feel like if we keep winning our 50-50s, we will be able to keep passing and keep possession.”

The Eagles (15-4) will be back in action Thursday at 2 p.m. While the team must avoid looking ahead, it is hard not to envision a semifinal matchup against No. 1 Haddonfield next week. The Bulldawgs defeated the Eagles twice on their way to claiming the Colonial Conference Liberty Division title.

“We don’t exactly look at the team, we just look at playing our best game, and trying to get farther and farther in the competition.” Kelly said.

If anything, Paratore said the thought of facing Haddonfield in the semifinals only makes the Eagles that much more excited about facing Pemberton.

“We want to beat them,” Paratore said. “We want to win (Thursday) so we can play (Haddonfield) again and win that game."