MONTVILLE, NJ — Montville's Morris County Tournament run ended in the semifinals on Saturday, as the third-seeded Mustangs fell 6-0 to five-time defending champion Chatham on their home field. The final score does not erase what this team accomplished to get here — a trip to the county's final four, earned over a season of big wins and bigger goals.
A KEEPER WHO STOOD TALL EARLY
Sophomore goalkeeper Juliana Benecki gave Montville its best moments of the afternoon right at the start. After Chatham opened the scoring on a penalty kick that sailed over her outstretched arms, Benecki came charging off her line minutes later to deny a Chatham attacker and keep the game at 1-0. Against a Chatham star who finished the day with four goals, every early stand mattered, and Benecki's kept her team in the match through the opening stretch.
A RUN TO BE PROUD OF
The Mustangs arrived at this semifinal with real credentials. They beat Mountain Lakes in the second round and overwhelmed Morristown Beard 6-0 in the quarterfinals, and all fall their attack has been one of the county's most dangerous — juniors Karolina Bodyziak and Samantha Trimble piled up goals by the dozen this season, while Benecki anchored the back with a string of shutouts. One hard afternoon against a champion does not change any of that.
Semifinals are where good seasons become memorable ones, and Montville played in one on its own field. This group — its scorers, its sophomore keeper, its whole lineup — has plenty to build on, and plenty of reason to believe its best tournament run is still ahead of it.
Game details compiled from published box scores.