West Orange Girls Soccer Heads to State Semifinals After Victory Over Ridgewood

From West Orange School District:

WEST ORANGE, NJ - The seventh-seeded West Orange High School Girls Soccer team has stunned second-seed Ridgewood to advance to the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 tournament with a 2-2 tie in regulation and an overtime win on penalty kicks, 6-5.

Mountaineers Kiara Machuca and Nyah Harper each scored goals in a second half comeback that included assists from Natalie Nevins and Samantha Herbert, who also made six saves.

"It was a pretty crazy game, "said Head Coach Sean Devore.

"We went down 2-0 at half," he continued.

"The score remained 2-0 until nine minutes left. Nyah Harper scored off a corner from Natalie Nevins to go 2-1. We were down to the final three minutes and got a free kick from 45 yards out. Goalkeeper Samantha Herbert served the ball, freshman Kiara Machuca headed it in to tie at 2-2," he went on to say.

"We stayed tied throughout 2 overtimes, and went to penalty kicks," stated Devore, "and both teams made all five shots and we headed into sudden death. Then Hannah Villasin scored hers and Samantha Herbert made the save for the win."

Ridgewood Maroons Emma LaFrance and Marisabel Fernandez each scored goals and Britt Cunningham had four saves.

"It was one of the best games I've been involved with in 15 years," noted Devore.

West Orange Girls Soccer moves on to the semifinals v. Montclair at an away game at Fortunato Field beginning at 2:00 pm.

Photo via West Orange School District: credit Cynthia Cumming.