SPFHS Girls' Soccer Tops Westfield

On a blustery afternoon where, at halftime, it rained like the world was coming to an end, who knew that a goal two minutes into the match would end up being the game-winner?

That was the case Thursday at Shimme A. Wexler Field at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School. Scotch Plains senior forward Avika Shah scored the lone goal, leading her team to an early-season victory over Westfield.

Thunder, lightning and fierce rains forced officials to halt the match with 33:29 to go in the second half. But the game resumed once the storm subsided, and Scotch Plains fended-off repeated Westfield attacks. Senior goalkeeper Paige DellaBadia recorded her first complete shutout of the season.

With the win, Scotch Plains improved to 2-0-1 overall and 2-0 in the Watchung Division of the Union County Conference. The team opened its season last Saturday with a 4-0 win at Cranford, the defending Union County Tournament champion. In the home-opener Monday, the Raiders tied non-conference opponent Watchung Hills 1-1.

Westfield's loss to Scotch Plains was its second straight 1-0 decision. The Blue Devils fell at home to Johnson 1-0 on Tuesday after opening with a 2-0 win at Union on Saturday. The Blue Devils are 1-2 overall and in the Watchung Division.

Scotch Plains' goal came from the team's first offensive attack. On the very first shot of the game – off a pass inside the penalty box from fellow senior forward Evie Klotz – Shah blasted a right-footed shot at the near corner past Westfield goalie Gaby Gold, who looked surprised.

From the angle at the left side of the goal, Gold might have thought Shah would try to beat her to her right. Instead, Shah's shot was strong enough to slip past Westfield's senior keeper, who managed to get both hands on the ball, but not enough force to prevent it from going in. It was the first goal of the season for Shah, who was one of the team's leading scorers last season.

"Most goalies tend to think of the far post and Avika just tried to shoot by the near post," Scotch Plains head coach Kevin Ewing said. "Both teams played well. We just came out on top."

Scotch Plains had the better chances in the first half, but Gold kept Westfield in the game. She stopped a header by junior Sarah VanBuskirk 12 minutes into the game, and late thwarted a left-footed shot by Gaby Vacca from inside the penalty box.

"In the second half we had 3-4 really good chances," Ewing said. "Westfield had one really good one that our defender Avia Shadmi made a nice play on."

The teams will meet again in conference play in Westfield on Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. The next Scotch Plains match is Wednesday at 4 p.m. at home against non-conference foe Linden.

"We have a young team that is inexperienced at some spots, but the kids are playing well and stepping up to the challenge," Ewing said.

Scoring in the Cranford victory were Emily Nagourney, Vacca, Julie Glover and Lisa Matrale. Glover also scored against Watchung Hills.

Nagourney, a team captain along with Shah, said she plans to continue playing at Johns Hopkins University, which has a Division 3 soccer program.

"Emily has been a four-year varsity player for us who is very talented and an excellent defensive center midfielder," Ewing said. "Her leadership is really helping us out right now."

Ewing said that Shah, like Nagourney, is also looking to play at a small, top-tier academic and Division 3 school.

NOTES: The match, which started promptly on time at 4 p.m., was resumed in the second half at about 6 p.m., according to Ewing. He added that the referees said that for a soccer match to be official, at least the first half must be completed.

REGULAR SEASON

Results/Schedule: (2-0-1)

Sept. 11 (A) Scotch Plains 4, Cranford 0

Sept. 13 (H) Scotch Plains 1, Watchung Hills 1 (tie)

Sept. 16 (H) Scotch Plains 1, Westfield 0

Sept. 22 Linden, 4 p.m.

Sept. 24 at Johnson, 4 p.m.

Sept. 28 at Union, 7 p.m.

Sept. 30 Summit, 4 p.m.

Oct. 2 at Ridge, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4 Cranford, 4 p.m.

Oct. 8 at Westfield, 4 p.m.

Oct. 12 Gov. Livingston, 4 p.m.

Oct. 14 Johnson, 4 p.m.

Oct. 19 Union, 4 p.m.

Oct. 21 at Summit, 4 p.m.

Oct. 25 at New Providence, 4 p.m.

Oct. 28 at Gov. Livingston, 4 p.m.

Union County Conference-Watchung Division for 2010:

(7 schools) Union, Westfield, Scotch Plains,

Cranford, Summit, Gov. Livingston, Johnson.

Scotch Plains-Fanwood's 4 non-league opponents:

Watchung Hills, Linden, Ridge, New Providence.