Northern Highlands wins first sectional title by Sean Farrell of The Record

ALLENDALE – The question came from Michael Menzella in the middle of his rain-soaked turf.

“Who am I?”

The answer yelled back to him in unison has never been truer.

“I am a champion.”

Just minutes before, his team conquered its ultimate goal.

Northern Highlands became a state sectional champion for the first time in program history.

The Highlanders earned a 3-2 win over Immaculate Heart in Thursday’s North 1, Group 3 championship game. They produced yet another defensive gem to get over the final hurdle.

When the last seconds ticked off, a mob of players and students alike stormed the field as the mist poured down in Allendale.

“We wanted this more than anything we ever wanted in life,” senior Julia Bradbury said.

“At the end of the day, you want something that your school will remember you for,” said Menzella, in his seventh year. “They just made the Highlands community proud by doing this. When you look back, it’s not going to matter if you got first team all-league or first team all-county. What matters is the memories you make and enjoying this moment.”

“And we’ll enjoy this as long as we can.”

A championship game short on offense never lacked in intensity.

The finalists produced one great chance after another from the start.

Some early goals were waved off.

Other shots rocked off the crossbar. But most were stopped by each goalie.

IHA’s Kate Rice and Northern Highlands’ Victoria Marino were brilliant.

“Vic had the game of her life,” Bradbury said.

Bradbury has been the offensive spark for Northern Highlands over the last few seasons.

The Bucknell-bound midfielder has produced four straight years with at least 60 goals.

The first Highlanders’ goal came off her free position shot. The next two were from Erin Hart and Katelyn Ewell.

“Julia is the type of player any coach wants on their team,” Ewell said. “She can pass. She can shoot. She can defend. She gives her entire effort the entire time and makes everyone around her look better.”

The Highlander defense held on in the last 18:13 of the game, clinging to a one-goal lead.

The Blue Eagles had possession with just over a minute left and a chance to force overtime.

But Marino ventured far out of her crease to pick off a pass.

It wasn’t one of her eight saves, but it was possibly the most important play of Northern Highlands’ season.

Ewell then scrambled around to kill off the last 30 seconds, before firing the ball away as time expired.

“They knew they were capable of this,” Menzella said. “The toughest part about high school is just getting them to believe in themselves. They second guess themselves a lot. You just hope in moments like this when the pressure is on, that training kicks in.”

Menzella brought his players into his classroom 45 minutes before the game.

The atmosphere was different than most days.

It was the first time the Highlanders were playing in a sectional final.

So Menzella broke character with a motivational speech. He gave the same rallying cry that would be heard about two hours later.

“I felt like we needed a very particular speech,” Menzella said. “The message was just to believe that you will conquer what others have not. Defeat will not be in your creed. I started off the conversation by saying that it’s an honor to take the field of battle with you. Another honor will be bestowed upon you by answering the one question. Who am I? I am a champion.”

“Now we have no reason but to believe it,” Marino said. “Because we are.”