Coaches bid farewell to strong seniors
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
The losses were not the worst part of Thursday’s sectional girls’ soccer matchups.
”The loss to Hunterdon Central was tough,” said Montgomery High School coach Jeremy Beardsley, “but it wasn’t as tough as the reality I won’t be around these seniors again. They were a great class.”
The Cougars, ousted 2-1 in overtime by Central Jersey Group IV seventh seed Hunterdon Central, were one of three Packet-area teams to wish their seniors the best after a difficult loss. MHS finished with a record of 18-3-1 and their first conference title led by nine seniors.
”It’s not just what they meant to this team,” Beardsley said. “They leave an incredible legacy. It’s what they left for the program. That’s what I’m struggling with. I won’t have the chance to train these girls and see these girls every day. They mean a ton to me. They redefined Montgomery soccer. Their record is something like 70-13. They’re state champions, sectional champs, county champs and conference champs.”
MHS bounced back from a 1-0 deficit at halftime to tie the game in the second half on a goal by Marcia Voigt. The Cougars couldn’t find the net for the game-winner.
”We gave up one shot in the first half,” Beardsley said. “It was a matter of sticking to what we do and things would come our way. Second half, we felt like we did enough to score, but it wasn’t in the stars. We missed some opportunities. The girls gave everything they have and it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Also in CJ IV play, 16th-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro South couldn’t come up with another dramatic upset as it fell to No. 8 Jackson Memorial in the second overtime, 1-0.
”The first half, they outplayed us,” said Pirates coach Chris Miller, whose team finished 9-7-2. “But we defended well the whole game. We just couldn’t put any away. It was like six of our seven losses. We lost by one goal. It was the same story.
”I don’t know if it was better to lose like that in overtime or go to PKs and lose. I’m very proud of the girls. They fought for everything.”
Underdogs for the second straight state tournament game, the Pirates gave the 18-4 Jackson squad a game. They just couldn’t upset Jackson as they had No. 1 seed East Brunswick.
”They were right there with a very good team,” Miller said. “Jackson was good. Once again, they proved they can play with the good teams.
”Any time you can come out at least .500, you can’t complain,” she added. “They were competitive with everyone. My girls were playing better at the end of the season than at the beginning. That’s a good sign. I’m proud of the way they played. They fought to the end.”
For the second straight year, Princeton High saw its Central Jersey Group III run ended by Freehold Boro, 1-0. The seventh-seeded Little Tigers lost to No. 2 Freehold despite 13 saves from Mary McNutt.
”It was a real physical game,” said PHS coach Greg Hand after his squad finished the season 10-5-1. “They kept pushing numbers up the middle of the field trying to win balls. They were big and strong. We did an admirable job matching up with their physical play.
”I think it was a year of constant growth, as individual players and as a team, both on and off the field. We had a really nice run at the end. Prior to (Thursday), we had won five of six.”
The Little Tigers were led by a strong group of seniors that made it tough to score on PHS.
”Each of them will be tough to replace,” Hand said. “As people and as players, each of them brought a lot to this team. Each deserves individual mention. As a unit, it was a terrific senior class. As a class, they were role models for what you want in seniors.
”There will be people to take their place,” he added, “but this particular group will be missed.”
And the players too will miss a chance to go a little further in the state tournament, and more than that, the chance to play with each other. That, as much as the losses, was tough to take.
”My girls were pretty upset,” Miller said. “That’s the toughest thing about the state tournament. First, you hope and pray you make the state tournament. Then, it’s one and done. That’s a tough situation, especially for the seniors. It’s their last game. They don’t realize how fast it goes by and what it meant to them. It’s not so much the loss of the game. It’s the last game of their high school career.”