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Girls Soccer: Ridgewood falls to Francis Parker in 2 OTs
Updated: June 4, 2012 12:19PM
Francis Parker’s Evan Fencik converted a penalty kick 4 minutes, 17 seconds into the second golden goal overtime session to win the Class 1A Ridgewood Sectional title 2-1 over the host Rebels on Friday afternoon and sent the Colonels to their first ever supersectional game on Tuesday night at the same location.
“I had missed one in the previous game, so I was really nervous,” Fencik said. “I didn’t want to think about anything. I found myself wiggling it out and just going with the flow. My coaches told me not to think about anything.”
Parker (15-5-1) thought they had opened the scoring in the first five minutes of the game, but the officials ruled Ridgewood goalkeeper Mallory McCormack had possession of the ball before contact caused the ball to come loose, allowing Mimi Vaintrub to score.
Vaintrub would get her chance seven minutes into the second half when she tied the score at 1-1. She was able to take a good angle one-on-one and curl the ball around the onrushing McCormack and into the goal.
“We’re excited because it’s the first time we’ve won a sectional final in seven years,” said Parker head coach Neil Curran. “We’ve made it here and lost every time so for our seniors this is a huge win to move forward.”
Ridgewood (9-12-2) took the lead 1:05 into the second half in familiar fashion. Michelle Ryczek parked a 29-yard free kick in the upper right-hand corner for her eighth goal of the playoffs and sixth directly from a set piece. She came close to giving Ridgewood the plaque when she clanked a shot off the crossbar with 2:15 left in regulation from the left side and about 23 yards from goal.
“The ball kind of slowed down like it always does,” Ryczek said of her goal. “I’m always trying for the upper 90 because it’s harder for the goalkeeper to get it. There’s not much to say (about the shot that hit the bar). I’m really disappointed but glad that I got that chance.”
