South Plainfield (3-0)

Showing remarkable poise and patience the Scotch Plains Lightning U13 Girls’ Soccer team upped their record to 3-1 Sunday at Wardlaw Hartridge School with their most well rounded effort of the year, a 3-0 victory over South Plainfield.

“This was our best game of the year ", said coach Luis Rodriguez

Each of the three goals was highlight film material. Jovanni Costello made one of her patented runs from defense to where she patiently deposited a perfect 25 yard shot with her left foot into the upper corner of the goal. Despite the demoralizing effect the goal could have had, South Plainfield fought back hard and almost tied the game on a breakaway that goalie Rachel Parker was able to deflect away. The Lightning added to their lead just before halftime as Angelica Glover drew several defenders to her before passing to a wide open Heather Rodriguez, who had an empty half of the goal to shoot for and calmly hit a low shot into the empty net.

“It’s a play that looks easy but a lot of players shoot it over the goal “, said Rodriguez of his daughter.

“I was really scared I would kick it over the goal “, said Heather Rodriguez. “I have missed that shot before”.

With a 2-0 halftime lead, the Lightning refused to play conservatively and continued to attack. Joanna Naugle made several spectacular runs down the left side where she frequently outmaneuvered two defenders and Katie Cornacchia, back after missing two games was equally effective on the right side. The only goal of the second half turned out to be the ultimate in poise as Glover connected on a perfectly placed penalty kick. What made it so impressive was that she had to shoot a second time because the referee claimed he hadn’t yet blown his whistle. So she calmly made almost the exact shot a second time.

The defense of Alyssa Straniero, Costello, Maria-Pia Rivero, Jaclyn Lazarus and Kristen Thompson made things easy for goalies Parker and Cathy Harley, who split the first half and Lazarus who played most of the second half.

Brittany Biondi seemed to be everywhere from her midfield position and received tremendous support from Harley, Jessica Nagourney, Nina Brownstone and Rodriguez.

Cheryl Monteiro and Rachel Kreyer both had spectacular games on the line and each came inches from scoring.

Because the Union Pulsars dropped their team, the Lightning get an unexpected week off next weekend. Their next scheduled game will be Sunday October 20 against Edison.