Jersey Sports Zone is excited to bring you exciting action from the pitch this fall in New Jersey high school soccer. We look back on the top ten most viewed games from our coverage in 2017:
#10 Shore Regional 2 Point Pleasant Beach 1 – Central Jersey Group 1 State Playoffs
Frankie McDonough and Kendall Rich both scored from short range in the early part of the second half to give the Blue Devils a spot in the Central Jersey Group 1 semifinals. After a scoreless first half, McDonough and Rich found the net in the 44th and 46th minutes. Julia Cairns got the lone goal for Point Beach with a beautiful left foot shot just 28 seconds after Rich’s goal, but Point Beach never found the equalizer. Watch the highlights of Shore Regional’s state soccer victory:
#9: Middletown North 1 Middletown South 0
Darien Rinn’s close-range goal at the 12:11 mark was the only goal of the game as the Lions earn avenge a 3-0 loss to Middletown South earlier in the regular seaosn. Haley Martin had eight saves to get the shutout. Watch the goal and some great saves in our highlights:
#8: Freehold Township 2 Freehold Boro 0
Freehold Township 2 Freehold Boro 0
Laura Noseworthy scored in the final minute of the first half and Meghan Summonte added a second-half score to give the Lady Patriots a 2-0 win over rival Freehold Boro to improve to 8-0. Watch two great goals that happened because of sensational passing:
#7: Steinert 3 Allentown 0 – Mercer County Tournament Championship
The undefeated Allentown girls soccer team suffered its first loss of the season after falling to Steinert 3-0 in the Mercer County Tournament championship game. Gabby DeLisa hit two goals from deep range to capture the Spartans first county title since 2006. JSZ’s Nery Rodriguez has all the highlights!
#6: Shore Regional 1 Saint John Vianney 1
Kendall Rich’s goal in the 69th minute gave the Blue Devils a tie on the road at SJV. Cameran Cox gave SJV a 1-0 lead early in the second half. It was the start of a tremendous rivalry between the two Shore Conference foes:
#5: Wall 4 Freehold Township 2 – Shore Conference Tournament Championship
Jenna Karabin had a three-goal night to help lead the Crimson Knights to an upset win over top-seeded Freehold Township in the SCT championship game at Ocean Township High. Wall lost to the Patriots 3-1 in the regular season, but the Crimson Knights set the tone in the first half. Lauren Karabin fed twin sister Jenna for the first goal of the game. In the final minute of the first half, Hailee Reinhardt delivered a perfect ball on the corner kick that was headed home by sophomore Marissa Sciorilli who picked the perfect time to score her first varsity goal. With a 2-0 lead at the half, it looked like it would be a comfortable Crimson Knights victory when Jenna Karabin scored her second goal of the game at the 60-minute mark. But Freehold Township mounted an impressive comeback scoring two goals in the span of two minutes starting with a Jessica Judge free kick that clanked off the post and in the net followed by a Jasmine Colbert goal from close range. Freehold Township got within 3-2 with 12 minutes to go, but seconds after the Patriots flurry, Karabin halted the momentum with a fantastic low shot weaving around two defenders. Watch highlights and post-game reaction from the Crimson Knights:
#4: Middletown South 4 Somerville 3 (OT) – North 2 Group 3 Semifinals
Emma Laudisi had a hat trick including the golden goal in overtime as Middletown South delivered one of the biggest upsets in New Jersey girls high school soccer in 2017. JSZ’s Courtney DuPont has the stunner from the state playoffs:
#3: Freehold Township 2 East Brunswick 1 (OT) – Central Jersey Group 4 Finals
Trailing 1-0 and with the season on the line, the Colbert twins rally Freehold Township into the state semifinals. East Brunswick took a 1-0 lead on an Alyna Negron goal in the second half. Bears keeper Lauren Krinsky, a University of Delaware commit, made a number of stellar saves, but the Patriots broke through as Jasmine’s shot off a rebound tied the game with just under three minutes to go. In overtime, it was Jada Colbert playing the role of hero with the golden goal. JSZ’s Bryan DeNovellis has all the highlights and post-match reaction from an outstanding game at Howell High School:
#2: Shore Regional 5 Glen Ridge 4 – Group 1 State Championship
For the third straight year, the Blue Devils delivered heartbreak to Glen Ridge in the state championship. Shore trailed 4-2 in the second half, but mounted an amazing comeback. It started with Frankie McDonough on a 30 yard free kick blast. Then with three minutes to go in regulation, Julia Eichenbaum drew Shore even. Instead of overtime, the Blue Devils got the ggame-winnerwith just nine ticks left on the clock as Hannah Birdsall delivered a pass to Eichenbaum who buried the championship clincher from close range. Birdsall had two goals for Shore, while Lindsay Jaiyesimi had a hat trick for Glen Ridge. JSZ’s Jay Cook brings us the incredible action and post-match reaction from Kean University:
#1: Saint John Vianney 3 Shore Regional 3
Erin Gilfillan’s goal with under two minutes to go forced overtime and Brelynn Bellamy came up with a sensational defensive play in the closing seconds of the first overtime session to give Saint John Vianney a 3-3 tie with Shore Regional. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw earlier in the regular season. Shore Regional had a 2-1 lead in the final ten minutes before Cameran Cox drew a penalty kick. Chloe Sherman tied the game at two on the PK, but Shore answered right back on a breakaway goal from Frankie McDonough to take a 3-2 lead. With under two minutes to go, Erin Gilfillan delivered a 34 yard blast to force overtime. In OT, Julia Eichenbaum thought she had a golden goal, but after getting the ball by the keeper, Bellamy came in and steered the ball away from the back of the net. Watch the highlights from an incredible game:
2017 Girls Soccer Goals of the Year
Thanks to all the great athletes for giving us so many great highlights all year long and there’s more to come in 2018! Take a look back at our top goals of 2017: