Notre Dame finds a way past Robbinsville
LAWRENCE >> Claire Barlow got to experience the Notre Dame High girls soccer team’s run to the Mercer County Tourament championship and Non-Public A final from the bench last season after she was called up from the junior varsity.
Now entrenched in head coach Ken Mason’s rotation, Barlow is hoping to help the Irish repeat those feats.
The junior did her part on Monday, coming on as a substitute to score the winning goal with 15 minutes remaining in Notre Dame’s 2-1 victory over Robbinsville.
“We have a lot of confidence,” Barlow said. “We’re going to keep practicing hard, working hard.”
The Irish (13-2-2) are unbeaten in nine straight since a 1-0 loss to Steinert.
“We’re learning to deal with adversity, and we haven’t really had to deal with it,” Mason said. “We’ve got a lot of younger girls involoved and they haven’t tasted it yet.”
Led by seniors Haley Skove and Megan Bromwell, ND begins its quest for back-to-back county crowns on Thursday against Nottingham.
Skove, who has 20 goals, had her streak of eight straight games with a goal snapped, but still managed to set up the winner by riding a challenge and squaring the ball for a wide open Barlow.
“I didn’t really have to say much after the game,” Mason said. “Our seniors, Megan and Haley, they were on them that tomorrow is going to be a tough practice and if you don’t want to be a part, don’t be a part. That’s how much they want it.”
After a sluggish start, Taylor Whitlock gave the Irish a 30th minute lead, lacing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.
Robbinsville, which wasted two golden opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, equalized early in the second half when Riane Walsh’s sharp-angle shot beat Bromwell.
The Ravens looked dangerous on the break with 20-goal scorer Kellie Hoffman and Walsh trying to slip behind the defense.
“We’re in a bit of a rut,” said Robbinsville coach Karen DeRossett, whose teams has lost four in a row. “Hopefully, we can come out strong in the MCT and build ourselves back up for states. I think we can play with anybody, but it’s just a matter of putting that little bit extra effort in.”
After Walsh’s leveler, the Irish went on the attack as Skove buzzed a free kick from 20 yards inches high and Miah Olaleye struck the crossbar from 33 yards on a free kick.
That was the first of two shots that hit the woodwork with Skove hammering a 66th-minute effort off the post.
Robbinsville goalkeeper Jamie Skarupsky made 11 saves, but it was Sarah Mazaleski’s recovery to clear and Olivia Panko shot off the line that kept the score 1-1 until Barlow finished her chance three minutes later.
“We’re definitley a comeback team,” Barlow said. “I felt confident that we could comeback. We had a lot of opportunities, so I felt like one would go in.” (ND). Walsh (R). T. Whitlock, Barlow
Flyge (R). Panko, Skove (ND). 9 (R). 23 (ND).