Tuesday, November 17, 2009

State semi-final not even close: HMHS 4, Cinnaminson 0

"Either way this looks like a one-goal game," wrote Marc Narducci in this morning's Inquirer. Not.

The Haddonfield girls totally dominated, outplayed and whitewashed a good Cinnaminson team, 4-0, in in tonight's state semi-final at Washington Twp. H.S. This is the same field where the Bulldogs outplayed Rumson last year only to be stoned by the hottest goalie in the state (and one of the best HS keepers I have ever seen) and lose on the last round of a shootout. Tonight they found the net and then some.

In fairness to my friend Marc, no one expected a blow-out. "And to think I had them practicing penalties," said an exuberant coach Glenn Gess afterwards.

Even before midfield Sarah Barrett put Haddonfield on the board midway through the first half, the Bulldogs controlled play. While the Cinnaminson keeper was not forced to make one tough save after another, as is often the case in a blow-out, Haddonfield kept the ball in the Pirates' end most of the time. Less than four minutes after Barrett's goal, Emily Grabiak made it 2-0 with 15:40 to go.

Cinnaminson picked it up a bit early in the second half but still mounted no serious threat. Their best chance came on a strong shot that curved wide right with 28 minutes left. Had they scored there they would have been down only a goal. Instead the Bulldogs roared back and two minutes later went up, 3-0, on a nice shot from the left by Kristen Ferguson.

It was over, but Kathleen Jordan added the exclamation point when she flicked a ball over her should past a startled Cinnaminson keeper with 14:10 left in the game.

On to the state final Saturday at TCNJ against Mahwah.

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