November 1, 2010
Kearny repeats as champs
Members of the Kearny girls soccer team celebrate after defeating Bayonne 4-0.
Click Here for more photos from Bayonne vs Kearny Girls Soccer.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – For Stefanie Gomes and the Kardinals, it felt like it was only a matter of time until they took over the game.
With the ability to get off her shot practically any time she wanted, Gomes delivered a pair of goals in the first half to propel Kearny to its second-straight Hudson County title after defeating Bayonne 4-0 yesterday at Caven Point.
“First half she was playing really well and getting the ball a lot because of her work ethic, which she’s been improving throughout the season,” Kearny head coach Vinny Almeida said. “She was very good and unlucky not to have a few more goals or assists.”
“We all wanted to score and we took as many shots as we could,” said Gomes who led the firing squad with 10 shots in the opening half. “We just wanted to finish.”
Gomes and the top-seeded Kardinals (15-3-1) ramped up the offensive pace from the start as she peppered the Bees (12-3-2) with an endless stream of shots her spot on the left side.
After having two of her blasts, stopped by Bayonne keeper Meghan O’Donnell, Gomes would break through in the 22nd minute when she scored off a Danielle Williams free kick. Gomes would strike again eight minutes later on a scramble in front of the net to make it 2-0.
“She’s certainly a little bit more mature,” Almeida said. “Not get discouraged when things don’t go exactly her way, but continued to work.”
Gomes had her way with the Bees defense for most of the contest, with only three saves from O’Donnell and a shot off the left post preventing her from having an even bigger day. Gomes, who now has 26 goals on the season, has been a nightmare for the Bees. In two meetings with Bayonne, the junior forward has scored four times.
“The thing about (Gomes) is that she always stays so composed,” Bayonne head coach Kellie Kopacz said. “Every time she had the ball, she thinks before she reacts. That’s probably her biggest strength. For a high school player she’s very composed.”
Williams, who assisted on the first two goals, scored on a corner kick late in the first half. In the 45th minute, Janitza Aquino buried a Katie O’Neill cross to put the game well out of reach.
Senior Fernanda Lois made three saves in net to pick up the shutout for Kearny as they were able to bottle up the Bees’ dangerous one-two combination of Lisa Rovatsos and Kaitlyn Pallitto. The duo, which has combined to score 40 times this season, had beaten the Kardinals for two goals earlier in the season.
“We’ve just been improving (defensively) in practice,” Almeida said. “Getting proper covering and defending as a team. We’ve improved since the first time we’ve played them and it really showed here today.”
O’Donnell made four saves in net for Bayonne which will host Union in the first round of the NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 tournament tomorrow at 2 p.m.
Kearny will be home to North Hunterdon tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the opening round of the NJSIAA North 2, Group 4 tournament.
Junior forward Lisa Rovatsos and Bayonne will face Union in the state tournament.
1st |
2nd
|
Total |
|
| Bayonne Bees (12-3-2) | 0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kearny Kardinals (15-3-2) | 3 |
1 |
4 |
| K: Stefanie Gomes (Danielle Williams) 22nd minute | |||
| K: Gomes (Williams) 30th minute | |||
| K: Williams (unassisted) 37th minute | |||
| K: Janitza Aquino (Katie O'Neill) 45th minute | |||
Goalies: B: Meghan O'Donnell (4 saves); K: Fernanda Lois (3 saves). |
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