For the Cranford Girls’ Soccer team, an early season 6-0 home loss to Westfield has proven to be a rallying point for the senior dominated team instead of a demoralizing defeat. (This next sentence will change based on the Summit result) The Cougars have won four straight games and now stand 5-1-1.
The Cougars had begun their season with a trio of difficult opponents, starting with a 0-0 tie at state number four ranked Montclair and won a 3-1 home decision over perennial power Governor Livingston, before losing to Westfield, currently the state’s third ranked team. But since then, the Cougars have been on a roll, utilizing their precision passing game and tenacious defense their last four opponents 19-1.
On Tuesday September 29, the Cougars exploded with their highest offensive outburst of the season when they won 8-1 at Roselle Catholic. .Overall, five different Cranford players scored in the contest with Natalie Englese, Danielle Jakubik and Sara Gugliucci, kicking in a pair of goals. Julianne Salerno and Jamie Webb also added goals and Webb also had a pair of assists.
Senior forward Sarah Dowzycki scored in the game’s opening minutes to provide the only goal the Cougars would need when they won 5-0 at Union Catholic Friday, September 25. Dowzycki added another tally twenty minutes into the game and senior Michelle Gargiulo also pierced the nets in the first half. Gargiulo and Salerno each added a goal in the second half to complete the scoring and Englese chipped in with two assists as the Cougars outshot the hosts 25-5. Genevieve Chaleff stopped two shots for the shutout. The victory was impressive because the Cougars were playing their second game in two days.
On Thursday September 24, the team took a hard fought 3-0 victory over Kent Place High School at Memorial Field. The Cougars used crisp passing to control possession and create scoring opportunities. Dowzycki led the way with a goal in each half. Salerno also scored and Lauren Grandal made three saves in the shutout
In their initial victory over Governor Livingston in September 15, senior midfielder Jen Folger sparkled with two assists. Rebecca Shafer and Webb were the beneficiaries of Folger’s passes. Chaleff made five saves in goal. After falling behind 1-0 Jakubik evened the score in the first half.
The Cougar girls were given the fifth seed in the Union County Tournament and will open this weekend by hosting 12th seed Kent Place. Cranford will try and improve on their 2008 performance when they reached the semi finals before losing to eventual champion Scotch Plains Fanwood.
The area’s other team, Brearley, has also had a fine season, going 6-1 with their latest success being a 3-0 home victory over Dayton on Friday October 2. Amanda Filippone connected on a pass from Samantha Hoag 1:30 into the game as Brearley took a 1-0 halftime lead. Filippone had two goals in the game and Hoag collected a goal and an assist for the Bears. Goalie Krissy Pinho excelled with seven saves.
On Friday September 25, Brearley had one of its biggest victories when they edged Kent Place 2-1 in overtime in Summit. Janine Casale scored both goals and Hoag assisted on both goals. Casale’s overtime goal came on a 25 yard shot seven minutes into the frame. Brearley trailed 1-0 at the half, before Casale evened the game in the 61st minute. Pinho had five saves in the victory.
Brearley had its biggest scoring outburst of the season when they defeated Roselle Catholic 8-1 on Tuesday September 22 in Kenilworth. Stephanie Hand scored two goals and Casale, Vienna Conde, Filippone, Hoag. Tania Miranda and Brittany Santos also scored. Filippone opened the scoring when she converted Samantha Hoag’s cross in the 14th minute for the Bears. Hand added two assists and Hoag assisted on three goals as the Bears took a 5-1 halftime lead.
On Tuesday October the Bears traveled to New Providence. Brearley was awarded the tenth seed and will open the county tournament on the road at Johnson.
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