CLARK, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders have been able to make the most out of the two games played this season, with one game being cancelled and another one postponed due to the weather last Wednesday at Kent Place. Monday afternoon put a battle up with two undefeated teams, the Crusaders against the Montclair High School Mounties.
They’ve depended upon being in the right places when scoring goals and keeping the offense of the opposing teams at bay for most of the game. This was another one of those game.
Johnson has already two games postponed/cancelled, including the Saturday, September 8 game at Metuchen and the Wednesday, September 12 at Kent Place, which was halted due to rain and thunderstorms in the area, which led to a ten-day gap in between the first and second games on the schedule.
The Johnson Crusaders and Montclair Mounties both came into Monday’s Essec/Union Red Division matchup with unbeaten records. Johnson was 2-0, while Montclair was 6-0 on the 2018 season.The Crusaders have risen to the occasion with their defense and at times, got the stops when they needed them. Seniors Kaylee Parkhill and Amanda Zambrana added a goal each as the Crusaders (ranked No. 18 on NJ.com’s latest Top 20) held off the Mounties in a Essex/Union Red Division matchup 2-0.
Kaylee Parkhill rushing with the ball up the field towards a chance to score. Photo Credit: Daniel CollinsThe teams spent the majority of the first half trading rushes up and down the field, but shots that were either not coming close to the cage or missing wide. Parkhill opened the scoring with a goal, a shot that went through, giving her team the 1-0 lead at 9:00 of the first half, putting an end to an early scoreless battle on the defense.
The Johnson Crusaders celebrating senior Kaylee Parkhill’s first half goal. She now has three on the season. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“Montclair’s seven games into their season and we are three games into our season. The chemistry that you build throughout the season, they have a little edge right now,” Johnson head coach Katrina Poskay said. “We’re tired, we’re sick, we’re trying to come back from that and keep it together.”
The goal was Parkhill’s third of the season, the assist going to junior Emma Hilton.
Johnson led 1-0 at halftime, but began buzzing near the end after coming up just short on a shot on the cage on a corner kick that was stopped before the teams went to the intermission.
The Crusaders took advantage of the corners they received, but couldn’t quite jam home the potential insurance goal, but maintained the lead, one that did not stand easily without a few close calls. With 11:45 left in the second half, Montclair was set up for a corner, looking for the game-tying goal.
With Johnson sophomore goaltender Michelle Kukan down, it was a defender who saved the day for Johnson.
Junior Jordyn Walsh got down and slapped the ball out of the danger area of the crease, keeping the lead intact at 1-0. She praised her team’s resiliency in keeping the ball away from the net, while talking about the moment of the big stop made to keep her team out in front.
Arthur L. Johnson High School junior Jordyn Walsh (#36, left) made a huge defensive stop on a Montclair corner that came initially close to tying the game. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“Running from the 50-yard line, the goal was to get back and help my defenders, and to stop the ball from coming anywhere near our cage,” Walsh said. “Once the ball became loose in the circle I was able to sweep it and successfully get it out of our zone.”
“It was all about being a team and getting the ball out of the circle,” she added.
Walsh’s quick thinking enabled Johnson to get a quick rush and get the ball out of the defensive zone, allowing them to have a chance to put the game away following the close call near the Johnson net.
Not too long after Walsh’s save near the Johnson crease area, a shot was fired on net, then deflected in by Zambrana, making the game 2-0 Johnson at 20:59 of the second half. Zambrana’s second goal of the season was assisted by junior Nicole Randazza, providing the breathing room for Johnson needed.
“Jordyn’s a very good left-side defender and that’s a hard position to play,” Poskay said. “She’s very calm. Even when she doesn’t seem poised, she is poised. I think she uses that to her advantage in pressure situations. She stepped up, she made the stop and that generated some offense for us with that corner.”
“I felt like we were knocking on the door all game, but those games when it’s a 1-0 game. They come down the field and they scored and it’s a totally different dynamic,” she added. “To get that second goal before [Montclair] had a chance to even it up was instrumental in the last few minutes.”
After not being able to bury the extra goal earlier on, making the extra defensive force from Johnson even more refreshing after getting the extra score.
Arthur L. Johnson High School senior Amanda Zambrana deflected in the insurance goal that made the game 2-0 Johnson. She praised her team’s work towards pulling through in a tough game. Photo Credit: Daniel Collins“We weren’t initially aware of Montclair’s record,” Zambrana said. “We play hard every game and focus on defense and teamwork to help win games.”
“I thought we played okay today, I don’t think we had our best game,” Poskay added. “To beat a really good team when you’re not playing your best is a mark of good things to come.”
The Johnson Crusaders (3-0) have games Friday afternoon at Delaware Valley HS at 4:00 p.m. and at Newton Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. Photo Credit: Daniel CollinsThe Johnson Crusaders (3-0) head out on the road to play at Delaware Valley HS on Friday, September 21 at 4:00 p.m.
The Montclair Mounties (6-1) head back on the road to play at Wayne Valley HS on Thursday, September 20 at 4:00 p.m.
