SP-F Girls Soccer Team Beats New Providence for 11th Straight Win

Paige DellaBadia had big shoes to fill as the new goalkeeper for the Scotch Plains girls’ soccer team.

Jackie Law, who graduated this June, helped lead Scotch Plains to their first four championships the last four seasons.

DellaBadia then had to overcome a mid-season injury when she dove for the ball in a 2-1 home win over Monroe on Oct. 3. DellaBadia returned to the lineup and has been nothing short of impressive, especially in Union County Tournament play.

Sunday night at Johnson High School’s Nolan Field in Clark, DellaBadia saved the day for the second-seeded Raiders, especially in the second half when they were outplayed by third-seeded and undefeated New Providence.

DellaBadia made four quality saves in the final 40 minutes on New Providence shots targeted for the goal.

DellaBadia’s outstanding performance was the reason Scotch Plains was able to hang on and defeat New Providence 1-0 in the night’s first UCT semifinal.

“I was nervous, but I was excited, so my adrenalin was pumping,” DellaBadia said. “I just knew that I had to be on my feet and be ready for every ball that came to me.”

Scotch Plains won its 11th straight game to improve to 13-1-1. The Raiders opened with a 0-0 tie at Pingry and their only loss was 2-1 at home to Westfield on Sept. 23.

New Providence, which received a four-save effort from goalie Connie Haggerty, fell to 15-1.

Just like last Saturday at home against seventh-seeded Johnson in the quarterfinals, it was a first-half goal scored by sophomore forward Sarah Van Buskirk that proved to be the game-winner. This time – after it was first reported that there was no assist on the goal – an assist went to Avika Shah.

DellaBadia, who finished with five saves total, made three outstanding saves in a four-minute span early in the second half. With 36 minutes left she made a fine save on a through ball in the penalty box and then three minutes later was positioned perfectly to smother a close-range, point-blank shot taken right in front of her.

“That was a quick play and I think she slid it in with a real quick shot and I had to react quickly,” DellaBadia said of the save she made on the close-range, point-blank shot. “I’m lucky she didn’t go too far to the right or left or it could have been more dangerous. Luckily, it came right at me, so it was easy to smother.”

Just one minute after that she dove to her right to thwart another tough shot headed for the goal.

Perhaps her best save of the night came with just 3:20 left. A hard and low New Providence shot was saved by DellaBadia when she dove – full body – to her left and punched the ball away with both hands.

"I saw her on the outside of the 18 and wasn’t expecting a shot at all because she had room to dribble in,” DellaBadia said. “When she took it, it was a pretty decent pace shot, so I knew I had to get there as quick as I could and it ended up as a corner kick, but I stopped it from going in.”

Scotch Plains has outscored its three UCT foes 8-0. DellaBadia was steady against Johnson last Saturday and spectacular against New Providence Sunday night.

"This is really exciting that we’ve been able to come this far,” Della Badia said. “Our defense is really strong, so I’m confident in them. I know that they are there for me, so I have to be there for them.”

Here, DellaBadia explains the injury she suffered in the Monroe game: “I dove at a girl on a breakaway and she clipped my thigh and I had a really bad bruise. She slid into my leg, so I couldn’t walk for a few days because it was such a bad bruise.”

Taylor Sebolao replaced DellaBadia in the Monroe game and played well. Then two days later, Sebolao earned a shutout with five saves in helping Scotch Plains host Linden 8-0.

Scotch Plains head coach Kevin Ewing – fortunate enough to have two solid keepers - decided to go back to DellaBadia for last week’s UCT quarterfinal against Johnson and DellaBadia is back at full strength now.

“I was on crutches for a few days, but I was trying to get off as soon as possible and I think five days later I was back at practice,” DellaBadia said.

How does the leg feel now?

“It feels perfect,” DellaBadia said with a big smile.

That’s great news for Scotch Plains as the Raiders have an excellent chance to win another UCT crown with DellaBadia in goal.

“Paige did really well and made some nice plays,” Ewing said. “She probably shouldn’t have been put in that situation, but that happens sometimes. She’s an excellent goalie, has been all year for us and that’s why she’s in there.”

Once again, Ewing watched VanBuskirk score in the first half and that was it – that and all of the fine saves made by DellaBadia.

“We’re a good defensive team and we have some kids that can put it in the net for us and we got one and just held on,” Ewing said.

In Sunday night’s semifinal nightcap, fifth-seeded Cranford upset top-seeded and unbeaten Westfield 1-0, winning a penalty kick shootout 4-3. The shootout was tied 3-3 after the first five rounds, with Cranford standout senior goalie Lauren Grandal saving Westfield’s sixth attempt and then senior Taylor D’Antico – who will continue playing soccer in college – making Cranford’s sixth and final attempt for the victory.

Neither team scored after 80 minutes of regulation play and two 10-minute sudden death overtime periods.

Westfield, ranked No. 3 in the state, fell for the first time this year and is now 15-1-1. The Blue Devils were 8-0 on Oct. 7 when they battled a 3-6 Union squad to a 0-0 tie in Union.

Cranford began its season with an impressive 0-0 tie at Montclair on Sept. 12 and then lost at home to Westfield 6-0 on Sept. 17. The Cougars are also 15-1-1 now and have not lost since.

So, the championship game next Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Johnson will be fifth-seeded Cranford vs. second-seeded Scotch Plains.

“We just want to keep playing hard and take it one day at a time,” Ewing said.

Scotch Plains will be seeking its fifth overall championship and fifth straight, while Cranford will be out to win its second title and first since 2000. Cranford was last in the championship game in 2004 when it bowed to Governor Livingston 1-0.

Scotch Plains defeated Johnson 3-0 at Johnson in last year’s championship game after beating Cranford 2-0 at Johnson in the semifinals. Grandal also played well in that game for the Cougars.

Scotch Plains and Cranford have not played each other this season.

NOTES: DellaBadia made two saves in the UCT quarterfinal win over Johnson, with Emily Nagourney assisting VanBuskirk’s goal.

VanBuskirk also scored and assisted on two other goals in the first round 6-0 home win over Roselle Catholic on Oct. 9. Also scoring in that game were Delia McGee, Nagourney, Melanie Rome, Shah and Gabby Vacca. Also earning assists were Sarah Canfield, Claudia Falconieri and Lauren Rosenthal. Scotch Plains fired 15 shots. 

RECORDS OF SEMIFINAL SQUADS

AFTER SUNDAY’S UCT MATCHES:

2-Scotch Plains – 13-1-1, has won 11 straight

5-Cranford – 15-1-1, has won 14 straight

1-Westfield – 15-1-1, lost for the first time

3-New Providence – 15-1-0, lost for the first time 

2009 UCT GIRLS’ SOCCER

SEEDS: 
1-Westfield. 2-Scotch Plains. 3-New Providence. 4-Union. 
5-Cranford. 6-Summit. 7-Johnson. 8-Oak Knoll. 
9-Gov. Livingston. 10-Brearley. 11-Union Catholic. 12-Kent Place. 
13-Rahway. 14-Linden. 15-Roselle Catholic. 16-Roselle Park. 
17-Elizabeth. 18-Plainfield. 
 
PRELIMINARY ROUND: 
Tuesday, Oct. 6 
Roselle Catholic 2, Plainfield 1 
Thursday, Oct. 8 
Roselle Park 5, Elizabeth 0 
 
FIRST ROUND: 
Friday, Oct. 9 
Scotch Plains 6, Roselle Catholic 0 
Saturday, Oct. 10  
Cranford 4, Kent Place 0 
Union 1, Rahway 0 
Oak Knoll 4, Gov. Livingston 2 
Westfield 7, Roselle Park 0 
Union Catholic 2, Summit 1 (PKs 4-3) 
New Providence 8, Linden 1 
Johnson 2, Brearley 0 
 
QUARTERFINALS: 
Saturday, Oct. 17 
Cranford 3, Union 0 
Westfield 2, Oak Knoll 0 
Scotch Plains 1, Johnson 0 
Sunday, Oct. 18 
New Providence 2, Union Catholic 1 (OT)

SEMIFINALS: 
Sunday, Oct. 25 at Johnson 
Scotch Plains 1, New Providence 0

Cranford 1, Westfield 0 (PKs 4-3)

 
FINAL: 
Saturday, Oct. 31 at Johnson 
5-Cranford vs. 2-Scotch Plains, 7 p.m.

UCT TITLE SCORES SINCE 1997: 
2008: Scotch Plains 3, Johnson 0  
2007: Scotch Plains 1, Westfield 0  
2006: Scotch Plains 1, Westfield 1 co-champs  
2005: Scotch Plains 1, Oak Knoll 0  
2004: Gov. Livingston 1, Cranford 0  
2003: Oak Knoll 5, Governor Livingston 0 
2002: Westfield 1, Oak Knoll 1 
co-champs  
2001: Westfield 2, New Providence 0  
2000: Cranford 3, Union Catholic 1  
1999: Union Catholic 4, Cranford 1  
1998: Union Catholic 1, Cranford 0  
1997: Union Catholic 2, Scotch Plains 0