Mendham’s varsity girl soccer team shocks Montclair
MENDHAM, N.J. — The Minutemen varsity girl’s soccer team shocked the state of New Jersey Tuesday evening. They defeated the No. 2 ranked team in New Jersey, per NJ.com. The win was jaw-dropping alone, however, the fashion in which they defeated the Montclair Mounties was the most fascinating. Montclair is well respected amongst the state for dominating and usually being one of the most respected teams for dominating their competition.
The Minutemen not only forced this team to go scoreless but they forced them into a second overtime. The hero and star of the game that etched her name in Mendham’s history book forever is Adeline Perkins. Perkins ran onto a pass from sophomore Lia Manuel inside the box. She eventually drilled the ball into the net as Mendham goes on to shock Montclair. The only score of the entire game was the game-winning goal as the Minutemen beat Montclair 1-0 in double overtime.
How about Mendham girls soccer with an upset of #3 in the state Montclair, 1-0 with 2 seconds left in double ot. @wmmathletics #mendhamgirlssoccer
— WMMHS Athletics (@wmmathletics) September 14, 2021
Although, Monties took more shots than Mendham it was all for none as they proceeded to take their first loss since 2019. They outshot the Minutemen 15 to 11 in Tuesday’s game but junior goalie Sonja Zeepvat played the game of her life. She came up with some big-time saves in overtime.
With two minutes remaining in the second overtime, the teamwork displayed was poetic. The Minutemen played out of the back where senior Catherine Grasso picked out Manuel who ultimately turned and dimed a 15-yard pass to a Perkins flying down the field for the win. The Mounties previously went 13-0-1 in the 2020 season that also included a sectional title.
Although, Montclair has had the previous success they did in fact struggle offensively throughout this game. The Mounties junior Sonia Neighbors who lead her team in goals in three games; was contained throughout the majority of the game which played a huge part in the Minutemen’s success.
“We went back and forth,” said second-year Mendham coach Sean Goldsworthy. “They had their
opportunities but we stuck together as a unit and stayed disciplined. We played organized and it
was a full defensive effort. It was a great defensive battle between the two teams.”
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