Lenape seeking 10th straight tournament win

November 18, 2011|By Phil Anastasia, INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

If a team wins the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association tournament and the state tournament in the same season, it's a big deal.

If a team completes the same grueling double two years in a row, it's a remarkable accomplishment.

Three years in a row? Four?

Would you believe five?

That's on the table for the Lenape girls' soccer team in Saturday's Group 4 state championship game against Ridge.

Under coach Kevin Meder, the Indians have won five Coaches Association tournaments in a row. They are seeking their fifth Group 4 state title in a row.

Story continues below.

Lenape's quest to finish an incredible 10 for 10 in tournaments since 2007 will be the highlight of a long day of soccer at the College of New Jersey.

Lenape (24-2-1) will play Ridge (17-4-3) at 2:30 p.m.

Moorestown (17-3-2) will be a marked underdog in the Group 3 state final against Northern Highlands (24-0) at 12:15 p.m., and Haddon Township (20-5) will play New Providence (18-1-1) in the Group 1 state-title clash at 5 p.m.

"We like being the underdog," Moorestown senior midfielder Steph Toy said of the Quakers' status against Northern Highlands, which is ranked second in the state by the Newark Star-Ledger.

Northern Highlands rolled through the state semifinals with a 6-0 victory over West Morris.

Moorestown beat Matawan, 1-0, in the state semifinals, getting the decisive goal on a penalty kick by junior Nicole Varela. Senior goalie Rebecca Schultz registered the shutout.

"We just play with so much heart," Varela said.

Moorestown's status as a heavy underdog seems fitting as the Quakers have been a surprise team this season. They were just 5-9-2 last season but have bounced back with much the same lineup.

"Everybody said, 'Moorestown is done,' " veteran coach Bill Mulvihill said of the perception of the program after last season. "But these girls didn't believe any of it."

Moorestown is seeking its fifth state title but first since 2005. Northern Highlands is seeking its fourth state title.

Haddon Township advanced with a 2-1 victory over New Egypt in the state semifinals as senior Patrice Maro scored a "golden goal" in the second overtime.

Maro leads the Hawks with 19 goals. Seniors Kelly Roche and Nicky Cutrera also are top players for coach Jim Kay's team.

Haddon Township is seeking its second state title and first since the Hawks were co-champs in 2000.

1 | 2 | Next »
|
|
|
|
|