High School Soccer:
Minutemaids Stun Shawnee 4-1

Friday, October 1, 1999

By Gary Steiner
SJSports Staff Writer

The Minutemaids of Washington Township visited the Lady Renegades of Shawnee to play a game "under the lights" for the hotly contested Olympic Conference American Division. Even though Township won the game 4-1, the score gives no indication on how close and hard fought this game was for both teams.

Township opened the scoring at the 35:18 mark in the first half when Corinne Schauffele put one in off of a breakaway. Both goalies, Tricia Irwin for Shawnee and Kelly Lizon for Township, were sorely tested in the first half and both made some great saves. But Township would score their second goal with 0:16 left in the half when Jen Scaffidi kicked the ball out of a crowd in from of the net.

In the second half, the crowd continued to witness some great defense, especially from Township's Megan Gresh, whom Coach Procopria described as "the best sweeper in South Jersey." Shawnee came close midway through the half when two consecutive shots would just miss going high over the net. Jeanne Lanza scored the Minutemaids' third goal driving the ball from almost midfield before putting it in the net at the 11:28 mark. Shawnee got on the board a minute later as Julie Raymond scored on a breakaway of her own. Township came right back at 10:09 when Jen Evans put the ball in just past the outstretched arm of Shawnee's keeper into the right-hand corner of the net. Both defenses prevented any additional scoring for the final ten minutes of the game.

These two teams always play each other tough. Township's Coach Tony Procopria said, "This is the first complete game we've played, and it took a complete game to beat these guys. Corinne [Schauffele] always seems to have great games against them." Coach Procopria and Shawnee's Coach Sam Matra have been long time friendly rivals. "Sam is great, and his team is one of the best in South Jersey."

Photos by Art Redd