Pittaro’s brace helps Steinert smash Moorestown
HAMILTON » All the Steinert High soccer team needed was to see the ball hit the back of the net.
After failing to score in 100 minutes against Notre Dame earlier in the week, the Spartans took their frustration out on Moorestown in non-league action.
Giana Pittaro tallied twice and created two others and the Spartans thrashed the Quakers, 4-0, on Friday afternoon in a rematch of last season’s Central Jersey Group III semifinal.
“That was what we kind of focused on in training, just finishing and relaxing in front of the net,” coach Mike Hastings said. “Getting (Giana) off the schneid and getting her going was something we wanted to accomplish in this game today.”
On target 19 times a year ago, Pittaro hadn’t hit the net yet in 2017, but she played her part in both of Steinert’s firsthalf goals before taking it upon herself in the second.
The Yale-bound senior recorded her first of two secondhalf goals 1:02 after the restart. Pittaro controlled the ball with her head and in one motion turned her defender and finished past the goalkeeper.
Michaela Miranda was the provider 11 minutes later, lifting a long ball into Pittaro’s stride for a first-time finish.
“It seems like a long time,” Pittaro said. “I didn’t think of it so much as frustrating as long as we were playing well. I knew it would all work out.”
Brielle Flodmand snapped the goal drought in the 20th minute after terrific work from Pittaro to hold off her defender.
Casey Grehan doubled the advantage in the 36th minute with a right-footed finish off Emily Gulaby’s knock down. Pittaro played the initial cross.
“The Notre Dame game was kind of a little lull in our play and we couldn’t get the ball in the back in the net, but today is a confidence booster to get four in the back of the net,” Pittaro said. “After that first goal, we just kept coming. Getting a goal in the first half always helps momentum.”
Meanwhile, the back four — Tatiana Dorner, Gabby DeLisa, Kristen Pirrocco and Chloe Zoldi — kept the Quakers (53) off the scoresheet and goal- keeper Erika Golik got her sec- ond straight cleansheet.
“Our defense has been playing really well and I feel like they’re not getting the credit,” Pittaro said. “Erika has really been stepping up in the goal, and our defense, they’ve been playing phenomenally.
Moorestown (5-3) Steinert (4-1-1) 0 0—0 2 2—4
Pittaro 2, Flodmand, Grehan (S).
Assists — Shots — Saves —
*** NOTTINGHAM 2, ROBBINSVILLE 0 ROBBINSVILLE » Gia Girman notched a pair of secondhalf goals and the Northstars stopped a two-game skid by blanking the Ravens.
Sara Haas got the shutout with seven saves.
Jaime Skarupsky made eight stops for Robbinsville, which suffered its first defeat.
Nottingham (4-2) Robbinsville (3-1-1) Goals — Shots — Saves —
Pittaro, Gulsby, Miranda, Hart (S). 6 (M). 17 (S).
Quintero 4 (M). Golik 2, Inman 1 (S).
0 2—2 0 0—0
Girman 2 (N).
8 (N). 15 (R).
Haas 7 (N). Skarupsky 6 (R). JOHN F. KENNEDY 5, TRENTON 0
ISELIN » Jacqueline Kelly and Elizabeth Klimek scored twice while Destiny Pagan contributed one goal.
Jaylin Cabrera made two saves in net to secure the shutout win.
Trenton (1-6) JFK (2-4) Goals — Assists —
Chowaniec, Kelly, Pagan, Rupasinghe (JFK).
Shots — Saves —
2 (JFK). Kelly 2, Klimek 2, Pagan (JFK). 2 (T), 27 (JFK). Graham 8, Stepps 14 (T), Cabrera GERMANTOWN 3, HUN 0
FT. WASHINGTON, PA. » Livia Kooker had four saves and Leah Sutphen added eight despite the loss.
Hun (4-2) Germantown Shots — Saves —
4 (GA).
0 0—0 2 1—3
7 (H), 19 (GA).
Kooker 4, Sutphen 8 (H), Altomare