Kingsway blanks Highland to reach girls' soccer sectional semifinals

Kingsway's Lindsey Thomas (right) has a shot blocked by Highland's Giovanna Definizio (22) during the South Jersey Group 3 playoff game. Kingsway won, 3-0.
Kingsway's Lindsey Thomas (right) has a shot blocked by Highland's Giovanna Definizio (22) during the South Jersey Group 3 playoff game. Kingsway won, 3-0. (CLEM MURRAY / Staff)
By Phil Anastasia, Inquirer Staff Writer
Posted: November 14, 2012

As her team did, Alicia Lenhart had a lot of time.

As her team did, she made the most of it.

With the ball at her feet and no defenders in the vicinity late in the first half, Lenhart took a deliberate approach and scored the game's first goal to spark Kingsway to a 3-0 victory over Highland on Tuesday in South Jersey Group 3 girls' soccer action.

"I knew I needed to relax," said Lenhart, a senior striker. "I just took my time. I knew my team was depending on me."

Juniors Rachel Rivell and Kerri Burns added goals and junior Maria Kirby made six saves to record the shutout for third-seeded Kingsway (13-5-2), which advanced to face the Central-Pinelands winner in Friday's sectional semifinals.

Kirby preserved the shutout with a diving save on a header by Brianna Squilla off a cross by Erin Looby late in the game.

"Our girls played really hard," Highland coach Tiffany Strauss said. "It was a tough situation for us because we've been off so long."

Highland, the No. 11 seed, had not played since upsetting No. 6 Burlington Township on Oct. 27. The Tartans were off for 16 days.

Kingsway was off for a week since it beat Lacey Township in the first round.

"We tried to act as if we had games and played some inter-squad scrimmages," Kingsway coach John Kodluk said. "We went the full 40 minutes [in a simulated half] and had them warm up like they normally do."

Lenhart said the Dragons used the added practice time to sharpen their skills.

"We've worked on a lot of things," Lenhart said. "We've been practicing hard, working on the things that will help us in a game."

The layoff didn't seem to affect the Dragons.

All that free time before she scored the game's first goal didn't rattle Lenhart, either.

"She's a real good player, a seasoned player," Kodluk said. "She took her time. Kudos to her."

Highland 0 0 – 0

Kingsway 1 2 – 3

Goals: Alicia Lenhart, Rachel Rivell, Kerri Burns.

Saves: H-Kari Vanderslice 8; K-Maria Kirby 6.

Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/

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