Eichenbaum’s Last-Second Goal Hands Shore Regional Third Straight Group Title By Mike Ready

 

WEST LONG BRANCH – With Shore Regional trailing, 4-3, in the 77th minute of the NJSIAA Group I championship game, super sophomore Julia Eichenbaum scored the equalizer with 3:09 left on the clock, then with nine seconds remaining in regulation she delivered the game winner to cap off a wild, come-from-behind 5-4 win over Glen Ridge.

 

The stunning win snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for the Blue Devils and delivered Shore Regional its third straight NJSIAA Group I championship – all coming against Glen Ridge.

In the Central Jersey Group I championship game, the fourth-seeded Blue Devils beat No. 3 seed Palmyra, 3-0, for their sixth consecutive sectional title. That gave them the opportunity to play for their third group title in a row, which they ultimately cashed in on.

In the Group I final, the Blue Devils had to overcome deficits of 3-1 and 4-2 before storming back in classic fashion to win the game.

Junior Hannah Birdsall set the winning play in motion carrying the ball up the left side of the field before sending a cross into the middle of the 18-yard box where Eichenbaum battled two defenders and gained separation about eight yards out before her left-footed shot found the upper part of the goal for the game winner.                                                                                                                                                          

As time was winding down in the second half it looked as though it might be the Ridgers’ day when Lindsay Jaiyesimi scored her third goal of the contest to put Glen Ridge up, 4-2, with 24:41 left in the contest.

However, you can never count the Blue Devils out and it didn’t take them long to pull back within one goal. Junior Frankie McDonough lined up a direct kick on the left side of the field just outside the 18-yard box and bent a 23-yard shot into the far right upper corner to cut the deficit to 4-3 in the 60th minute.

Eichenbaum’s equalizer was in similar fashion as her game winner as she battled a number of defenders for the ball before gaining control and unleashing a ground-burner that beat the goalie to her right then followed that up with her heroic game-winner.

Shore Regional and Glen Ridge have battled in the Group I final in five of the last six seasons with the Blue Devils now holding a 3-1-1 advantage.

Glen Ridge opened the scoring taking a 1-0 lead when Tara Feenaghty converted on a penalty kick in the 17th minute. 

Shore answered right back though, with Birdsall blasting one into the upper corner to tie the game, 1-1, before Jaiyesimi scored back-to-back goals in the 21st and 33rd minutes to put the Ridgers back up, 3-1.

The Blue Devils got one back before the half when Birdsall scored her second goal of the half beating the goalie, Vicky Woznick, to the ball following a shot on goal by Eichenbaum that deflected off Woznick’s hands directly into her path.

With the win, Shore also clinched their third consecutive 20-win season and appears in excellent position for another run at the title next season. The Blue Devils started only three seniors in the final and most of the team, including Eichenbaum, Birdsail and McDonough will be back for another go at it.  

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