Tuesday,
November 4, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Alex Mesropyan scored the game-winner with just over 6 minutes left as IHA ended Northern Highlands' 88 game unbeaten streak and won the Bergen County title, 2-1. |
OAKLAND – When Alex Mesropyan went down with a knee injury in IHA’s Bergen County semifinal win over Ramapo last weekend, the immediate thought that popped into her mind was that she did not know if she would recover in time to face Northern Highlands in the county final, the match that everyone has been looking forward to since the two teams shared last season's title.
After working so hard over the past year in the hopes of getting one more shot at the Highlanders and enduring one long week of physical therapy, Mesropyan was ready to go and with the game tied at 1 deep into the second half she proved her fitness. Mesropyan healthy enough to put together one last run at goal.
Mesropyan finished off a scintillating zig-zag run through the Highlander defense with a rocket into the lower right-hand corner with 6:26 to play that lifted as IHA to the outright Bergen County title and ended Northern Highlands’ state-record 88-game unbeaten streak in the process with a thrilling 2-1 triumph over Northern Highlands on Monday night at Indian Hills High School in Oakland.
“The last two days have been the longest of my entire life, I just did what I had to do to be on the field,” said Mesropyan.
Right from the opening whistle, IHA took control of the possession game and kept the pressure on the Highlander defense. Fullbacks Sarah Kelly and Morgan Busacca were up to the task, winning 50-50 balls and keeping the Blue Eagles at bay until late in the half when IHA freshman Rebecca Jarrett showed why she has quietly become one of the county’s most dangerous offensive weapons.
Mesropyan sent a ball into space along the right side with Kelly and Highlands goalie Kayla Klatt converging on the loose ball. Jarrett used her blazing speed to slip in between them and chipped a shot past Klatt as it slowly rolled inside the left post to put the Blue Eagles ahead, 1-0, with 7:41 left in the half.
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Hana Kerner (left) scored in the 36th minute to draw Highlands even at 1. |
The Highlanders answered right back with their own speedster doing the damage. Busacca bent in a perfect pass from midfield that Hana Kerner ran onto for a breakaway and the University of Virginia-bound striker drilled it past IHA keeper Taylor Lupi with 5:15 to play in the half to make it 1-1. Kerner, who did not start either half because of a lingering concussion, still made her presence felt with the crucial goal.
Lupi was beaten on that occasion but did come up with arguably the most important play of the game just before the half. Kerner broke free once again but Lupi charged off of her line to make the save. Although Lupi’s save ensured a tie game heading into the second half, the momentum had squarely shifted to top-seeded and three-time defending champion Northern Highlands.
“They had built some momentum but I loved how we played throughout the first half,” said IHA head coach Brandon Silva. “For the first time all year, I made no halftime adjustments. We just had to keep our shape and keep putting the pressure on. I’m happy that Alex was the one who got the game-winner though. She was the heart and soul of our team. I knew if she got an opening that she could make something happen.”
The start of the second half was similar to the first half with IHA having more possession but the Highlander defense locking them down in the final third of the field. That did not deter the Blue Eagles, who used a classic display of two-touch passing to get the ball on the foot of Mesropyan.
The do-everything senior received the pass from Sophia Gulati and turned towards the net with a defender on her hip. She cut back to her right to elude another defender before cutting back to her left to split a pair of defenders to create space just inside the top of the box. Mespropyan unleashed a low-lining shot past the diving Klatt with 6:26 remaining to put IHA ahead, 2-1.
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Sophia Gulati and IHA are now the state's undisputed No. 1 team. |
The Highlanders attempted to push players forward to net the equalizer, but never got off another shot as the IHA players, coaches, and faithful fans poured onto the field in celebration.
“I felt really confident that if we kept working that we’d get that second goal,” added Mesropyan. “(Northern Highlands) has such a strong defense that you just have to keep moving the ball, keep your head up and hope to find some cracks. Once I had the shot, I knew I had to take it and get it on net.”
Lupi made three saves for IHA (18-0), as did Klatt for Northern Highlands (16-1).
The win not only snapped Northern Highlands’ 88-game unbeaten streak but also cemented IHA as the number one team in the state heading into the state tournament. IHA will have to turn the page and turn its attention to finishing what they set out to do after losing in last year’s Non-Public A state final. But for now, the team will bask in the glory of one of the best games ever played in the history of the Bergen County Tournament.
“Games like this in front of crowds like this just don’t happen every day, so you really have to soak it in and appreciate the opportunity,” said Lupi. “It was nerve-wracking this entire weekend but once we got on the field, we were ready to go. It’s very hard to hold a team as good as Northern Highlands to no goals. We knew they were going to score, but we kept our composure. We all believed that we could do this. But now that we’ve actually done it, I think we’re all still in a bit of shock. It’s a game we’ll never forget.”
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