Edison Independence (5-1)

If strange weather breeds strange games then perhaps that helps explain Sunday’s bizarre season opener between the Scotch Plains Lightning U13 Girls Soccer team and the Edison Unite Independence won by the Lightning 5-1.

The game was a rematch of teams that a week earlier had battled to a tense 0-0 tie at the Piscataway tournament decided 1-0 on penalty kicks. The Lightning figured to be at disadvantage this time because they would be missing goalie Rachel Parker, so instrumental in the earlier game.

Even more ominous than the opposition was the weather forecast which forced the teams to have an alternate field to play at in case the rain got too torrential. Thirty minutes before the game was to start the rain pelted the field but almost as an omen the sun came out as the game was too start.

Only two minutes into the game Angelica Glover served notice that this game would be different by converting a long pass from Cathy Harley into
a spectacular breakaway goal. Glover showed remarkable patience placing the ball high into the middle of the goal as the Edison goalie never left her line. Only minutes later Glover was sprung free again by an excellent through pass by Javonni Costello. This time the Edison goalie came out to try and stop Glover but arrived a split second late and Glover had her second goal for a 2-0 lead. The collision left Glover slightly bruised but the Edison goalie needed Emergency personnel to remove her from the field to an ambulance, stopping the game for 25 minutes.

Edison quickly cut into the lead several minutes after resumption converting on a penalty kick. The half ended almost right after that containing perhaps 15 minutes of game action and 25 minutes of stoppage time.

With the weather still cooperating the Lightning increased their cushion in the second half with two goals that originated off the strong right foot of Cathy Harley. On her first direct kick the Edison goalie was unable to hold onto the ball and Joanna Naugle alertly tipped it in. Five minutes later the goalie was unable to catch another hard Harley kick that made it 4-1.

Costello, a standout on defense showed her offensive skill by converting a pass from Kristen Thompson into a low well place left footed goal.. And as the game ended and the players and fans went to the safety of their automobiles the sky finally opened up and it poured.

Although giving up their first goal of the year on a debatable hand ball the Lightning defense remained unyielding. Goalies Jaclyn Lazarus, Brittany Biondi and Harley combined to fill in well for Parker. The defensive wall of Alyssa Straniero , Costello and Maria Pia Rivero, melded with fine midfield play by Katie Cornacchia, Nina Brownstone and Heather Rodriguez and line performances by Jessica Nagourney, Rachel Kreyer, Joanna Naugle and Cheryl Monteiro.

The Lightning play again on Sunday September 22 at the Central New Tidalwave