IHA Soccer Having A Dream Season

We’ve all heard of the 1992 US Olympic “Dream Team” with Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Charles Barkley.  They were the greatest team ever assembled.  Well move over men!  The 2007 IHA soccer team is making a great case to take their title away.

They are undefeated with an astounding 20-0 record.  They have conquered Pennington Prep and Pingry (more on that game later), their extremely competitive rivals.  They are ranked #1 in the ENTIRE country by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.  For ANY school, that is something to cheer about. 

Captains Jen Orlando, Kaitlin Cooney, Claire Reinhard and Julianna Griego have been instrumental in this team’s success.  Kate Courter, the sophomore goalie, has been an unstoppable force in goal.  Defender Jaclyn Wood has guarded the goal like it was Fort Knox.  The freshmen on this team have also made a big impact.  Gabby Cuevas and Erin McGovern have been invaluable.  Cuevas, well, you’ll understand why later, and McGovern has provided support wherever she is needed.

On an unusually cold Thursday, IHA beat Mount St. Marys, who hail from Watchung, in the quarter finals of the state tournament, 4-0.  Ashley Burt and Jen Orlando had 2 goals a piece.  They advanced to play their long time rivals Pingry, but first they had to take on Northern Highlands. 

           

On Saturday, IHA conquered cross-county foe,Northern Highlands, in the Bergen County Championship, 1-0.  There is only one adjective to describe what happened: Sisterly Love. Nicole Orlando kicked a corner kick, where her sister, Jen Orlando, headed it into the top right corner for the only goal of the game.  The IHA team celebrated, but the next day, they were all focused on their game against Pingry.   

 

On Monday, the atmosphere at IHA was the most excited I’ve ever seen it the entire year. It was on everyone’s minds.  Teachers were wishing students luck.  Various students were giving high fives to girls they knew played.  Then the moment of truth finally came. The game was off to a quick start.  Kaitlin Cooney passed to Tara Schwitter, where she scored the first goal.  Then Freshmen Phenomenon, Gabby Cuevas, scored the final IHA goal on a pass from senior, Claire Reinhard. IHA was knocked out of the states by Pingry for the past three years.  This year, they got revenge, shutting them out 2-0.

   

  The crowd at the Pingry game was monstrous.  The crowd was tripled in size compared to the Mount St. Mary’s game they played last Thursday.  I have to give a shout out to the IHA Faculty.  There are normally a few members who attend, but at the Pingry game on Monday, they were out in full swing.  Sister Ellen, Mrs. Mongelli, Mr. Herold and Mr. Prior were just a few of the numerous teachers that came out to support their students.  In addition to them, Varsity softball coach, Anthony La Rezza came out to support his softball players who also play soccer as well, like sophomores Ashley Clarke and Melissa Mussina.

   

IHA will take on Morris Catholic today for the North State Championship at 4:00 at Passaic County Tech Institute.  Look for an update late tomorrow night or Friday.  Hopefully, this will reassure any doubters that IHA really is the girl’s soccer dream team.