November 10, 2010
Miller stars as Cougars fall
McNair's Brittany Miller made 18 saves in net against Caldwell.
Click Here for more photos from Caldwell at McNair.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
JERSEY CITY – McNair’s Brittany Miller wasn’t ready for this season to end. As her season and high school career were in their final days, there was no denying the Cougars’ senior goalie was at the top of her game.
Despite a sparkling 18-save performance, Miller and McNair saw their playoff run come to an end with a 4-0 loss to Caldwell in the NJSIAA North 2, Group II semifinals yesterday at Lincoln Park.
“She was spectacular,” Caldwell head coach Mike Teshkoyan said. “She kept them in the game and I can’t say I’m surprised. The first time we played them earlier in the year she was excellent.”
Miller, who had allowed just one goal in her previous two victories this season, made nine saves, while fighting the sun in the opening half to keep the game scoreless. The highlight for Miller and the fourth-seeded Cougars (14-6) came in the 22nd minute when she dove to her right to rob the Chiefs’ Serena Machi
“(Brittany’s) bailed us out a few times, most specifically our last state game (against Lodi) where we won 1-0 and she made 18 saves, McNair head coach John Hughes said. “It certainly seems like she elevated her game tremendously during the state tournament.”
“This was a big year for me,” Miller said. “I want to continue to play after I graduate so I wanted to progressively get better as the season went along.”
Miller’s scoreless streak would come to an end in the final seconds of the opening half when Sam Borges headed in a Katie McDonald cross to give ninth-seeded Caldwell (14-6-1) the lead.
“That was huge,” Teshkoyan said. “(McNair) was dangerous today. If they sneak one in, it’s a whole different ballgame. They came close. They had some good crosses. We knew we had the wind (in the second half) and we settled down.”
With the score and lead in their favor, the Chiefs were dominant in the second half. Caldwell peppered Miller with shots in the second half – 12 in total, while the Cougars struggled to get the ball out of their own zone and was held shot less.
“It’s hard because it starts to get frustrating when it’s shot after shot after shot,” Miller said. “But I tried my best to stay calm, cool and collected and do my best.”
The constant offensive pressure would become too much as Caldwell broke through with a trio of goals in a span of 15 minutes late in the half. Borges, McDonnell and Machi all scored in the stretch to ensure the Chiefs’ spot in Friday’s North 2, Group II title game.
Carleigh Trivino made two saves to earn the shutout for Caldwell.
Miller is one of four starters McNair will lose to graduation next season. With younger sisters Brianan and Brooke still on the team, Brittany said she will visit the team and watch them play. But she admits that it will be bittersweet to leave his siblings and teammates.
“In our little huddle (after the game) I just started crying because this has been the best season I’ve had so far in high school,” Brittany Miller said. “I never wanted it to end and wanted it to go on the rest of the year.”
