Lady Mustangs split two road games over weekend
By: Rudy Brandl
ROSELLE The Manville High girls’ soccer team should play all of its games at night.
Last Friday, the Lady Mustangs captured their second victory under the lights in as many tries. The next morning, Manville dropped its third day time contest and fell to 2-3 overall on the season.
"I think we get more pumped at night because we’re ready," said senior forward Alison Smith, who scored two goals in Friday night’s 4-1 victory at North Plainfield. "We’re more focused on the game."
The MHS girls opened the 2001 campaign with an impressive 4-0 shutout victory over Bound Brook. After two sloppy efforts in losses to South River and Roselle Park, Manville had eight days off before taking out its frustrations on North Plainfield at Krausche Field.
"We played an awesome game," Manville head coach Nestor Cortina said. "It was better than the Bound Brook game. We were doing really good runs and the passes went right through."
Smith started the scoring in the 14th minute with an unassisted goal, but the Manville lead was short-lived. Leigh Keane tied the game five minutes later but the Canucks didn’t get another one past MHS keeper Stefanie Bocchino, who finished the game with three saves.
Sophomore left midfielder Amy Cutler played a pivotal role in the offense for the rest of the game. Cutler scored the go-ahead goal on a corner kick blast directly into the net in the 27th minute.
After Jessica Covert made it 3-1 just before halftime on a feed from Lauren Kohler, Cutler set up the team’s fourth goal. She assisted on Smith’s second goal 12 minutes into the second half, firing a cross to the far post where Smith was waiting to finish the play.
"We were ready for the game," said Smith, who leads the Lady Mustangs with three goals. "We had to win it to stay ahead with our record."
The MHS girls have qualified for the state playoffs in both of Cortina’s years as head coach. They have the talent and experience to do it again this fall, but they realize that they can’t afford to fall too many games below .500.
Although Manville dropped a 2-0 decision at Roselle Catholic on Saturday morning, Cortina was encouraged by his team’s performance. The MHS girls carried most of the play, especially in the second half, and enjoyed a 12-9 edge in shots. They just couldn’t put one in the net.
"We had a few balls go across and almost go in and the goalie just touched it," Cortina said. "We played a good game, but you can’t win all of them."
Manville opened the game looking a bit tired, which wasn’t surprising after playing a Friday night game on the road. It’s never easy to get back up and play another game 12 hours after getting off the bus the previous night.
"It hurt having to come back and play again early today," Cortina said. "They played very hard last night. That was a hard game. It’s tough playing two games in a row like that."
Roselle Catholic earned the victory with two beautiful goals. Tara Pullick converted on a breakaway in the 24th minute, barely beating Bocchino, who got a hand on the shot. Gina Collucci made it 2-0 in the 38th minute.
"They were both beautiful goals," Cortina said. "Nobody could have saved them."
Manville nearly got back in the game right away but Tiffany Spinola hit the post and the team trailed by two goals at the half. Manville attacked for most of the second half and the Lions didn’t get their first shot of the half on goal until 11:41 was showing on the clock.
"We played a good game," Smith said. "We passed really well and we had more shots. We just couldn’t score."
Kohler nearly scored with 18 minutes to play but her shot was deflected wide of the far post, where no teammate was there to knock it home. Cutler sent a dangerous corner kick near the goalmouth a few minutes later, but Smith’s point-blank shot was stopped by RC goalkeeper Catherine Ferrise, who made eight saves.
Manville sweeper Christine Andreyko played another solid game anchoring the defense. Amy Ortman took over at goal in the second half and turned away the only two shots she faced.
The Lady Mustangs were scheduled to face New Providence on the road and Oak Knoll at home this week. Cortina figured his girls needed at least a split to stay on course for a third straight trip to the states. After the two bad games, the Lady Mustangs have picked up the pace and are playing much better.
"I think we’ve improved a lot," Smith said. "We’re passing a lot better and talking a lot more."