SOCCER

Morris Hills takes down Roxbury in NJSIAA opener

Dan Canova
@DanCanova

ROCKAWAY - Morris Hills senior Lauren Sysyn was dribbling the soccer ball near midfield with two minutes left in the first half.  Sysyn looked up, saw freshman Ayla Lopez make a run toward goal, and put a perfect through ball between two defenders that hit Lopez in stride.  After Lopez shed a defender, she made a quick move past Roxbury goalkeeper Sarah Olivero at the top of the box and sent a slow, rolling shot into the net.

That’s all the Scarlet Knights needed to take down Roxbury, 1-0 in a NJSIAA North 1 Group III opening-round match on Monday afternoon.

Lopez was as stellar on the offensive side of the ball as she’s been all season long.  She is second on the team with 10 goals and first with six assists.

“She (Lopez) does a lot for us,” Morris Hills head coach Janel Jones said.  “Defensively, in terms of putting pressure on the backs, and she is really starting to figure out the runs we’ve been working on up top.  She uses her speed and skill well and has been a huge asset for us this year.”

However, the key for Morris Hills was its defense.

Senior defenders Madison Ingling, Casarah Morales and Anna Marie Ciallella played a flawless game. Sophomore goalkeeper Victoria Aspiazu put together a masterful performance in goal to keep the Scarlet Knights ahead.

“She never played goalie before this year,” Jones said. “She has come a long way this season and she did an awesome job for us.”

The Gaels, reigning Morris County Tournament champions, attacked the entire second half with forwards Ashleigh Sarafin, Madison Martino and Danielle Dachowski, but they were unable to put the ball into the net.  Late in the game, Roxbury head coach Justin Renna moved senior defender Deanna Graziani to the front hoping to get a goal, but the Scarlet Knights held on.

The Scarlet Knights visit top-seeded Northern Highlands on Thursday, the team which eliminated them from the NJSIAA Tournament a year ago.

“We came together so well and we don’t want the season to end," Lopez said. "We need to keep going.”

Staff Writer Dan Canova: (862) 240-2878;dcanova@gannettnj.com