VIDEO: Lakeland drops DePaul in PK shootout in county semifinals | ||
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After surviving 100 minutes without conceding a goal, the Lakeland girls' soccer team found a way into the Passaic County Tournament final. The Lancers won the penalty-kick shootout 4-3 to pull off the upset over third-seeded DePaul. Lakeland, the seventh seed, scored its second straight surprise after knocking off #2 seed Clifton in the quarterfinals. The Lancers were significantly outshot during this game but rode tough defense and the goalkeeping of Sarah Deighan to secure the scoreless draw and reach the shootout.
In the shootout, DePaul missed its first two kicks, while Lakeland missed its second try. Neither team would miss in the next two rounds, leaving Lakeland up 3-2 going to the final round. After Jazlyn Oviedo put her shot home for the Spartans, Danielle Downey had the final attempt. Her well-placed shot eluded the DePaul goalkeeper to clinch the shootout. It was the second straight year that Lakeland went to a shootout in the county semifinals; last year, the Lancers lost to Clifton. This is the first time since 2008 that Lakeland has reached the county girls' soccer final. Rilee Keenan made three saves in net for DePaul. With the official result of this game recorded as a tie, the Spartans are now 8-1-3. Lakeland goes to 9-5-3. The other semifinal saw a similar result, as West Milford won a shootout over top seed Wayne Valley following a 1-1 draw. That means the county final will feature the fifth-seeded Highlanders against seventh-seeded Lakeland, this Saturday at Passaic Tech. For sports video highlights of this New Jersey and Passaic County Tournament semifinal high school girls' soccer game, click play in the box at left. |