Poulter, Dello Russo lift Whippany Park

MADISON Junior forward Silvana Poulter scored two goals for the Whippany Park girls soccer team in its 2-0 victory over Madison on Tuesday afternoon.

The first of two came 17 minutes into the game when senior captain, Gina Dello Russo launched the ball in the direction of Poulter, and Madison goalkeeper, Mika Lesham came out of the goal too far, and Poulter headed the ball over the keeper while fending off a defender to give the Wildcats the lead.

“I think we played very well, it’s probably our best game of the season so far,” Dello Russo said.  “Silvana and I have been playing together for three years and sometimes it just seems to work. We just connect.”

Poulter had the team’s two goals, but Dello Russo was the hero.

Eight minutes into the second half was Madison’s best scoring chance of the afternoon.  Down 1-0, Dodgers’ forward, Mackaela Goodwin was on a break after beating two defenders, and was one-on-one with Whippany Park goalkeeper Kate Matrisciano.  Goodwin put the ball past her, and it was rolling on net for the equalizer.  Dello Russo came out of nowhere, and right before the ball was about to cross the goal line, she made a game-saving play, clearing the ball away for a throw in.

“Had that ball gone in, we would have had a whole different game,” Dello Russo said.  “I think it kept our spirit alive and kept us going.  It gave us the confidence to finish the game strong.”

Whippany Park head coach, Marc Dovico added: “Gina is all hustle, all the time.  I expect nothing less.  If there is one player that is going to make that play on our team, it’s her.”

Poulter had two more opportunities to score late in the second half.  With 10 minutes remaining in the game, she ripped a shot from the top of the box, and it ricocheted off the cross bar.  Four minutes later, Poulter beat two defenders and the goalie, but it hit the far pole.  Finally, with three minutes left, she took another shot from distance, and put the ball in the upper-left corner to seal the win for Whippany Park (4-2).  Goalkeeper, Matrisciano made four saves to earn the shutout.

“I need to work on a little bit of my finishing,” Poulter laughed.  “But overall we did well.”

Madison head coach, Kevin Lynott had high expectations for his team heading into the season.

Having only lost five games a year ago, the Dodgers (1-4) are already one loss shy of matching last season’s total.

“We need to improve on every aspect of the game,” Lynott said.  “From competing, to offense, to defense, to keeping and possessing the ball.  There isn’t a facet of the game we need to improve upon.”