Lady Pioneers Earn Spot in Soccer Sectional Finals

New Providence High girls soccer coach Scott Murphy wanted his team to get off to a fast start in Tuesday's North Jersey, Section 2 Group I semifinal at Lieder Field.   

Mission accomplished. A goal by senior Gina Caprara seven minutes into the game gave the Lady Pioneers' fierce defense to play hard and earn a 1-0 victory over Whippany Park.

 Murphy knew the visiting team wasn't used to playing on the faster turf field, so when Caprara scored seven minutes into the game, the top-seeded,  two-time defending champions their third straight trip to the sectional final. New Providence will play host to second-seeded Glen Ridge at 2 p.m. Friday at Lieder Field.     

Junior Emma Cullerton provided the assist on the goal, while junior keeper Jill
Ashinsky made four saves to post her 10th shutout for the Pioneers, now 15-3.

Murphy praised his backline of senior Ali Boyle, junior Nicole Saitta, sophomore Jenna Madden and freshman Ashley Evangelos.   

"Whippany Park played very hard and are very skilled,'' said Murphy. "We were
evenly matched. Anytime you have that it takes the little extra things and catching some breaks.''   

Caprara, who has scored 16 goals this season, hit a searing shot about 18 yards away. Culleton threaded a through ball that Caprara nailed.   

"It was a rocket,'' Murphy said. "One of our pre-game talks was about getting a start early. They predominately play on grass, and they came to our place and it takes time to get used to it. I didn't think that one goal would stand up because they started to settle in and it was even back and forth with each team controlling the field.''   

The trip to another sectional final might have surprised some outside of the
Pioneers' circle, Murphy said.   

"We lost seven starters and many outside of our circle didn't expect us to get
back,'' Murphy said. "Our main goal was to show everybody that just because we lost so many players, we could [still] do it.''