CLARK, NJ- As the Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders took to the field to get the state tournament underway against the Bordentown High School Scotties, it was freshman Sarah Scepekowski who delivered a career performance in a very active first half for the Johnson offense.
She scored four goals, recording her first career hat trick in the first half alone as the second-seeded Crusaders defeated the 15th-seeded Scotties 7-0 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 First Round Tuesday afternoon in Clark.
The Johnson Crusaders (14-3) advance to the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 Quarterfinals. They will take on seventh-seeded Holmdel HS Friday at 3 p.m.
They play their last regular season game at home against Union Catholic HS Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 p.m.
Scepekowski sped through the Bordentown defenders with a series of moves and cashed in for the first tally of the afternoon just 2:33 into the first half, giving Johnson a 1-0 lead. Her second goal made it 3-0 Johnson.
Her third and hat trick-recording score came in the final seven minutes of the half. Johnson led Bordentown 5-0 at halftime.
“It felt amazing, it was great,” Scepekowski said of her first career hat trick in the first half.
“Sarah’s has done a great job, she has six goals in her last three goals,” Johnson head coach Ken Leeder said. “She really pressures the ball and makes things happen, so she’s been a spark for our team.”
In a span of just under ten minutes, Johnson burst for four goals, an indication of the stranglehold they had on their opponent on the afternoon. Overall, Johnson spent a lot of time spent in the Bordentown zone and not as much time spent on the defensive side, with the Crusaders locking down on the Scotties at every angle of the field on the afternoon.
