Milton tops Harwood on PKs
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Toolbox
By TOM HERZIG CORRESPONDENT - Published: November 8, 2009
RANDOLPH – After 100 minutes of all-out effort wasn't enough to determine Saturday's Division II girls soccer state title game, defending champ Milton summoned up last year's winning formula and outscored No. 4 Harwood 4-3 in a penalty kick showdown.
Katie Johnson, Caroline Dillon and Julienne Vergura scored in succession for Harwood to start the shootout, but Yellow Jackets Sam Rock, Emma Stinson and Danielle Hurley matched the Highlanders shot for shot. When Milton goalie Hillary Turner dove and deflected Ariel Goodman's bid on Harwood's fourth attempt, the Highlanders were clearly in peril. It was all over when –after Milton's Tess Quintin had connected – Turner sprawled and batted down Sarah Moore's shot on goal.
Milton held a 1-0 halftime lead following senior Kaitlin Cleary's goal in the 14th minute. Cleary, unmarked just inside the top of the 18-yard box, was assisted from the sideline by Jenna Morrissey. Open looks for the Yellow Jacket were few and far between after that.
In the second half Harwood intensified its attack without managing a shot on goal for more than 20 minutes. That all changed when Highlander senior striker Caroline Dillon booted in the game-tying goal in the 62nd minute. The play was created by freshman Laura Moore's crafty work along the left wing.
On the ensuing kickoff, Rock sent a hard drive to goal that Harwood keeper Taylor Burdett (11 saves) managed to handle. Rock almost reached a through ball in the 67th minute, but Burdett tipped it away. With 6:25 left in regulation, Hannah Fraser's direct kick for Milton bounced near the 6-yard box and skimmed the top of the crossbar.Harwood had one shot on goal in the first overtime period, while Milton had none. Sarah Moore and Julienne Vergura won many balls in the midfield as the game wore on, as did Milton's Danielle Hurley and Emma Stinson. Thirty seconds into the second overtime, Harwood's Paige Cleary headed a dangerous ball away from an open net. From then on Milton began to have trouble containing Laura Moore and Harwood's scoring chances increased. One prime opportunity came when Sarah Moore dispossessed an opponent and tapped the ball to Liza Mackey, who returned the ball to Moore for a shot from 10 yards out that went 2 feet wide. After that Laura Moore swiveled in from the sideline and found Caroline Dillon's foot in close, but Turner broke up the play with 31 seconds remaining.
"They picked the play up on us in the second half and we went flat for a while," Milton coach Stephanie Hurley said. "We were missing our starting stopper, Gina Abbiatti, and they tired us out a bit with their pressure. Kaitlin Geary, who scored our goal, has been a key for us offensively. When we got to penalty kicks we felt good about it. Our keeper Hillary Turner (six saves) thrives on these situations. She peeled off a layer and got down to her lucky shirt for those saves."
"There was a lot of back and forth and counterattacks," Sarah Moore said. "We came in knowing they would be tough."
"At halftime we talked about how it wasn't going to be about speed or technique that would get us back into it," senior fullback Katie Johnson said. "It was going to be about desire, and that's what we showed."
"Bottom line is that was a helluva match," Highlander coach Jon Hammond said. "It's soccer. We knew that's the way you end a game. After being down 1-0, they just kept fighting. I couldn't have asked for anything more. Both teams had tremendous chances in overtime. For a freshman like Sarah (Moore) to be creating chances like that in overtime in a state championship game, my hat is off to her. Our seniors have given something here that is more important than a state championship, and that's a face to our girls soccer program. They were great role models for our younger players.
Saturday's match marked the first finals appearance since 2000 for Harwood, which ends the year at 11-4-3.
Milton 1, Harwood 1
(Milton wins 4-3 on penalty kicks)
Goals: M – Kaitlin Geary (Jenna Morrissey), 14th minute. H – Caroline Dillon (Laura Moore), 67th minute. Starters: M – Emma Stinson, Lindsey Barcomb, Sam Rock, Shannon Wells, Bethany Berger, Hannah Fraser, Jenna Morrissey, Danielle Hurley, Stephanie Bull, Kaitlin Geary, Hillary Turner H – Julienne Vergura, Caroline Dillon, Anna Hoffman, Laura Moore, Laura Bataille, Ariel Goodman, Liza Mackey, Paige Cleary, Sarah Moore, Katie Johnson, Taylor Burdett. Shots (on goal): M - 25 (12). H - 18 (7). Corner kicks: M - 3. H - 3. Penalties: M - 13. H - 13.