Cranford‘s dream season came to an end Monday afternoon, when Millburn came to Memorial Field and left with a 2-1 win. Millburn will play in the North II Group 3 state sectional championship game on Thursday.
“I think that they took advantage of their scoring opportunities and we didn’t necessarily do that,” said Cranford head coach Jen Michewitz. “We created opportunities in the second half, but we were not having any luck putting them in the back of the net.”
Millburn was powered by a very strong defensive effort and the unlikeliest of heroes, freshman Isabella Gordon, who scored both Millburn goals.
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“We’re a team. Izzy is a part of our team. She has been injured for the last part of the season, but she’s obviously got quality,” said Millburn head coach Andy Sones. “She got significant minutes in our last game and did well and now she got decent minutes in this game and I think she’ll remember today for a long time.”
The first score came midway through the first half when Millburn's Taylor Perretti headed a ball through to Gordon, who was able to secure the touch and fire away for the score, giving Millburn a 1-0 lead. Her final goal came with score tied at one and with 12:54 to play.
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Millburn's Katie Beimfohr made a run down the field, was able to create some separation from the defense and found Gordon in the box with a perfect cross. She was set up with a point blank shot and did not miss.
Gordon missed a large chunk of the season with a hip-flexor strain, making her accomplishment in this afternoon’s game all the more special.
“This was my best game. It feels really good, because I would never expect it,” she said after the game. “I just always try my best. I try to just help the team out, I don’t really care what happens for me.”
Cranford’s lone score came early in the second half, and tied the game at one. However, no Cougar actually scored the goal. Millburn’s Carly Feit accidentally headed a Cranford free kick into net for the equalizer.
The contest was won in the middle for Millburn, which controlled the ball for a large portion of the game and won the majority of the 50/50 balls. Cranford had some opportunities to score, but the Millers were very good about clearing balls out of the box or getting a foot in the way at the last moment. Cranford managed just six shots on goal, compared to 19 for the Millers.
“I thought we had a game plan and we executed very well,” said Sones. “We went out in the first half with a certain objective and I thought we absolutely dominated them.”
Millburn seems to have a knack for winning close games recently. They’ve won their last four contests by just one score and also won the county title by just one tally. Contrarily, earlier this season they had only won one of their first four contests decided by a score.
“I’ve got players who play in big games,” Sones said. “They’re not just talented players, they’re experienced and they’re used to competing at this level. They want to play, they want to win. They don’t want the season to end.”
For the Cougar girls there is not much for them to hang their heads, as they have posted their best season in nearly a decade. They finished as Union County champions and with a very good 14-3-2 mark.
“It’s disappointing, unless you win that state championship, there’s going to be a disappointing game along the path,” Michewitz said. “But I think that as disappointing as it is, we don’t want to let that take away from anything we’ve accomplished this season.”
Millburn moves onto to the state sectional championship on Thursday, where they will be back at home because of sixth seeded West Morris - Mendham defeating second seeded West Morris - Central.
