The Columbia High School girls’ varsity soccer team got a boost when their state playoff game against Franklin High School was switched Tuesday to Underhill Field. They couldn’t take full advantage of the home field, losing 2-1 in a tense match.
Sophomore goalkeeper Liana Runcie gave up a goal in the first half, but held up well against a relentless assault in the first half. Senior center-midfielder Emma Unterkoefler knotted the game at 1-1 when she lofted a shot from 20 yards out over the head of the Franklin ‘keeper. The shot hit the top bar and ricocheted into the back of the net.
Columbia dominated the play during the second half, but a turnover led to a rush to the goal by the Franklin midfielders, beating Runcie to take a 2-1 lead. The Cougars never stopped attacking, putting the pressure on the Franklin defense throughout the last 10 minutes of the game but they couldn’t sneak one past the goalkeeper.
Runcie stopped 10 shots by the Franklin players. The Cougars finished the season with a record of 10-9.
It was the final game for 13 seniors on the roster: Forwards Daisy Tyler, Rachell Mosquera, and Sabrina Rodrigues; Goalkeeper Kaitlin Morton; Midfielders Kendall Majtyka, Gabrielle Matalon, and Emma Unterkoefler; Defenders Siobhan Nolet, Serin Feldman, Lucy Daugherty, Kelsey Moore, Nathalie Spidle, and Leah Strahs.
Unrterkoefler, who will be continuing her soccer career next year at Fairfield University, will be featured in an upcoming interview on villagegreennj.com.
Editor’s note: Have any sports news from Maplewood-South Orange? Share your stories, photos, and ideas by emailing dave@villagegreennj.com.
