Saturday,
September 20, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Jillian DiGiacinto (right) gets a hug after her strike with just over 15 minutes left gave Hasbrouck Heights a 2-1 win over Saddle Brook on Friday afternoon. |
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS – Through its first four games of the season, Hasbrouck Heights has run roughshod over the competition with seemingly everyone getting into the act of scoring goals. Everyone, that is, except senior center midfielder Jillian DiGiacinto, one of the team’s most steady players.
Known more as a holding midfielder, DiGiacinto has been careful in choosing her forays forward, but with the Aviators locked in their first close game of the season against upstart Saddle Brook, DiGiacinto saw the opportunity she has been waiting for since the season started and seized the moment.
She stepped up and unleashed a perfect strike from 30 yards that glanced off the post and in with just over 15 minutes to play. That cracker stood up as the game-winner as Hasbrouck Heights stayed undefeated with a hard-fought 2-1 triumph on Friday at Hasbrouck Heights High School.
“This is the best we’ve battled them in awhile and they beat us on a beautiful shot,” said Saddle Brook head coach Steve Olshalsky. “You never like losing. But when you force a very good team to make a great shot like that, there’s no reason to hang your head. I’m very proud of the way we played and we showed that we were right there with the best team in our league.”
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Diandra Ocot (center) gave Saddle Brook the lead less then 15 minutes in with a header off a corner kick. |
Saddle Brook has been one of many teams that the Aviators have had their way since the league was formed. Normally when the teams met, the Aviators take control early and cruise to victory. The Lady Falcons have been a pleasant surprise this season with four wins in their first five games and showed early on in this match that this game was going to be much different the than ones they’ve had with the Aviators in years past.
Less than 15 minutes in, the Falcons earned a corner kick and cashed in on it. Nicole DeLucia served one into the middle of the box and Diandra Ocot rose above the defense and headed it over the outstretched hands of Hasbrouck Heights’ keeper Diana Torres and into the net for a 1-0 lead.
It was the first time that the Aviators trailed all season but it did not last for long. DiGiacinto sent a cross into the box and Carolyn Livecci hit a half-volley into the side netting to knot the score at 1, which remained going into the second half.
Hasbrouck Heights kept the pressure on from there, but were turned away one time after another by either an aggressive play from senior sweeper Shannon Duffy or a tough save from Alexa Bufi.
They could only hold off the Aviators for so long, though, and DiGiacinto finally broke through both personally and when her team needed a goal most. DiGiacinto pounced on a loose ball, took a dribble, then ripped a laser from 30 yards out that glanced the right post just below the crossbar and in for her first goal of the year with 15:23 to play to put the Aviators ahead, 2-1.
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Carolyn Livecci's goal got Heights back even at 1-1. |
“I have been waiting to score all year and thought that this might be my chance,” said DiGiacinto. “When I kicked it, I knew it had a chance to go in. We really had to work hard today and I like the way we recovered after they scored first. We kept our composure and found a way to win.”
Saddle Brook had one last chance with under a minute to play on a long run by Ashley Russo. The shot was right at Torres though and the Aviators’ unblemished start to the season remained intact. Hasbrouck Heights (5-0) held a 16-8 advantage in shots with Torres making six saves. Bufi had to make numerous tough plays in the box and finished with nine saves for Saddle Brook (4-2).
With stern tests coming up today against Sparta, neighboring rival Wood-Ridge, and defending North 1, Group 1 section champ New Milford coming up in the next week, the Aviators will be tested more frequently. While their level play must improve, winning a close game is a solid foundation for future success.
“This is a big win for us because of how we responded to being down a goal,” said Hasbrouck Heights’ head coach Allison Jones. “I couldn’t be happier with my defense and they are improving every day. Offensively, we didn’t take advantage of the opportunities we had as well as we would have liked. But this was our first real test and it took us some time to adjust. Now we know we can a close game against a good team. That’s something that will give us confidence going into the tough games we have coming up.”
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