Shore going for number five

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr,
Photos by Sportshotwlb

Shore Regional girls varsity soccer is going for its fifth consecutive NJSIAA Sectional title as they advanced with a 4-2 win over Point Beach in the quarterfinals.

The Blue Devils are also the NJSIAA Group 1 defending champions. Last week they hosted the Garnet Gulls on a windy afternoon. For the past few years Point Beach and Shore have played each other several times a year as they were both in the Shore Conference B Central division. However, this year the Devils moved to the Class A Central division, so the quarterfinals was the first time all season they faced each other since last year.

Julia Eichenbaum, freshman at Shore Regional, has made a big impact on the team this season. During the second half of a tied game against Point Beach she used tremendous foot skills dribbling past Garnet Gull defenders and kicked a rocket into the Point Beach goal to break the 2-2 tie.
“For a freshman she has great composure with the ball, “said George Moutis, head coach of the Blue Devils. He added that Eichenbaum does not get flustered, frustrated and is able to kick the ball away. “It’s like the ball is glued to her feet.”

In the 4-2 win, Eichenbaum had two of the team’s goals. The other two goals were kicked in by Hannah Birdsall and Frankie McDonough. Lauren Mendillo had two assists, Devon and Frankie McDonough each had an assist for Shore in the victory.

In the goal for the Blue Devils was Julia Valinoti who made four saves in the victory. Shore which is now 16-4 outshot the Garnet Gulls 10-2. “They say the best defense is when you defend at the other team’s goal. Our forwards do a great job at chasing, our mids do a great job of closing the other team down,” added Moutis.

Shore will now advance to the semifinals where they will face top seed Highland Park. The other semifinal game features third seed Haddon Township and seventh seed Palmyra.