Girls Soccer

November 10, 2009

Kards look to grow from blowout loss

Samantha Pace Kearny

Senior Samantha Pace (right) scored the lone goal for Kearny in a loss to Montclair.

Click Here for more photos from Kearny at Montclair.

By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director

MONTCLAIR – With 19 wins and a Hudson County championship, there’s no denying that this season has been a successful one for the Kearny girls soccer team.

As impressive as this season has been for the third-seeded Kardinals, yesterday’s 7-1 loss to second-seeded Montclair in the NJSIAA North 1, Group IV semifinals served as clear message of what it will take to reach that next step towards being a state power.

“They’re just fast and physical, something we weren’t prepared for,” Kearny coach Vincent Almeida said. “It was something we didn’t experience all year playing in the Hudson County conference. They were a better team hands down.”

After a competitive start of the game, things started to unravel for Kearny (19-3) as Montclair, ranked No. 14 in the state, took control of the tempo. Maya Pitts opened the scoring for the Mounties and Kaila Jenkins followed with her first of three goals of the game just a few minutes later.

“In the first five minutes, before it started to get really intense, we had a few opportunities, they had a couple,” Almeida said. “They just picked up the intensity, the physicalness and we weren’t ready for the match.”

Almeida admitted that he was stunned at the way the game started to fall apart as the Kardinals never seemed able to recover as Montclair continued their offensive barrage, making it 5-0 at the half.

In total, the Mounties had 30 shots in a performance that Montclair coach Chris Johnson called his team’s best performance of the season.

“If they come out and play like that there’s no reason they can’t go out and win a state title,” Almeida said.

Erica Joab, Allie Straim and Haley Snider also scored for Montclair and Maddie Fabbro made three saves in the victory. Montclair had fallen to Kearny in the North 1, Group IV final in 2006 and 2007.

Samantha Pace scored Kearny’s lone goal and Alicia Weber made 12 saves in net in defeat.

Kearny loses three starters – Pace, Weber and defender Maggie Bilfulco – to graduation. With eight returning starters including a deep group at forward, there’s plenty for Almeida and the Kardinals to be optimistic about. Now they know what it will take to reach their goals in 2010.

“We have a young team, the first time playing varsity and in the state tournament,” Almeida said, adding that he’d try to schedule out-of-conference games with more physical teams next season. “It’s a good experience for next year.

Stefanie Gomes Kearny

Forward Stefanie Gomes is one of eight starters that will return next season.

 
1st
2nd
Total
Kearny (19-3)
0
1
1
Montclair (15-2-3)
5
2
7