ND advances to its third sectional final in four years
LAWRENCEVILLE » She knows the days are winding down on her senior season, but Julia Rossi is having too much fun to think that far ahead.
Whether it was the snow in the preseason, the chill of April and now the rain of May, Rossi just wants to leave it all on the field.
“Sure, I know it’s eventually going to come to an end,’’ said Rossi, after the Irish defense shut down Colts Neck, 12-5 in a Central Jersey Group III semifinal Tuesday played on ND’s Msgr. Nolan Field that finished in a steady rain.
“I look at the season as playing every game like it’s my last,’’ added Rossi. “I play my hardest and I just want to do what I can for this team to go very far.’’
The No. 2 seeded Irish will now advance to the sectional final on Friday against the winner of Wednesday’s match between No. 1 Allentown and No. 4 Jackson Liberty, which is set for the first draw at 5 p.m.
Should the opponent be Colonial Valley Conference rival Allentown it will be the third meeting this season.
Defending champion Notre Dame (13-3) is going to the sectional final for the third time in the last four years.
No. 3 Colts Neck (18-3), which averages 15.3 goals a game, took a 1-0 lead and then the ND defense took over and the attack followed, building a 7-2 lead at the intermission. Just like in the first half the Irish did a great job on the draw controls, and then they played a possession game.
“The defense has been solid and now we are just trying to find a way to put it all together,’’ said ND coach Bryan Fisher. “When you are playing a team that scores a lot of goals you want to get the lead and try to win ugly. We won ugly, but we won and we’re in the final again.’’
The Irish were led by Maddie Rizzuto with a hat trick. Gabby Skowronski, Ava Scudillo and Nikki Phillips all had a pair of goals with Rossi, Jessica Pisani and Danielle Losier all getting one. Losier had a pair of assists and Skowronski, Scudillo, Rossi and Pisani all had one.
Nicole Burney was solid in the cage with six saves.
Ally Largey, who has 111 goals on the season, had a pair for Colts Neck with Camryn Allmers, Taylor Niedzielski and Kayla Wade all getting one. Sarah Shaughnessy has an assist and Nicole Policastro was terrific in goal with 10 saves.
But for the Irish it all starts with the defense, which is allowing 3.93 goals a game.
“Notre Dame has a reputation for defense,’’ said Rossi. “It takes a lot of time to master the zone and at this point we have mastered it. We are playing amazing and it has gotten us this far, to the state sectional championship. We love the competition and we love the challenges.’’
Colts Neck (18-3) Notre Dame (13-3) Goals —
Largey 2, Allmers, Wade, Niedielski (CN). Rizzuto 3, Scudillo 2, G. Skowronski 2, N. Phillips 2, Rossi, Pisani, Losier (ND). Shaughnessy (CN). Losier 2, Pisani, Scudillo, G. Skowronski (ND).
11 (CN). 23 (ND). Policastro (CN). Burney 6 (ND).
Assists — Shots — Saves — 2 7 3 — 5 5 — 12