Girls Soccer: No. 6 Paramus stays hot, defeats No. 19 Indian Hills, 2-0

PARAMUS — Nicole DiPasquale smiled and ran away briefly. But even the athletic Paramus goalie was no match for her determined group of teammates.

Moments following her third shutout in a row, fourth of the year and 22nd of her career, DiPasquale was chased with a water cooler carried by her peers following No. 6 Paramus’ 2-0 win over No. 19 Indian Hills.

It was time for a celebratory and congratulatory water-cooler shower, as DiPasquale — described by coach Glenn Haug last week as the program’s “most athletic goalie” ever — had just broken the Spartans’ 16-year-old career shutout record.

Even better, and more importantly to DiPasquale, it came in a big, early-season victory in a game featuring two of North Jersey’s feel-good stories of September with both teams already making early-season statements in the Big North Freedom.

Through five games, though, only one team — No. 1 Northern Highlands — has found a way to figure out DiPasquale, with the senior keeper serving as the Spartans’ backbone and leader during their 4-1 start.

Not since the first half against Highlands — on Sept. 10 (a 4-0 loss) — has DiPasquale and a talented Paramus defense surrendered a score. It’s been roughly 300 minutes of game time, including a near 100-minute, 1-0 shutout against Ridgewood in double overtime.

“She’s honestly amazing,” teammate Kaitlyn Scrivanich said with a drenched, but all-smiles DiPasquale standing nearby. “She’s the best keeper to play with. She saves all of us.”

“I do care more the win,” said DiPasquale, bound for TCNJ next year. “But it also is really rewarding to finally break a record.”

Last week’s double-overtime hero against Ridgewood (a 1-0 win), it was Scrivanich again who provided Paramus with a late go-ahead goal Saturday with 17:36 left in the second half to break a scoreless tie.

After a few close calls in the first half and early in the second, Scrivanich — seemingly in on every good Paramus scoring chance — delivered a highlight-reel goal in the 63rd minute.

After a great defensive play from Alyssa Jacob, and even better lead pass up the left sideline for a sprinting Scrivanich, the speedy junior forward — DiPasquale called her “a gazelle” — somehow managed to sneak one in inside the right post off a near-impossible angle on a shot that ricocheted off the Indian Hills keeper’s hands and into the net.

Here’s the whole sequence:

GS: GOAL, Paramus! Kaitlyn Scrivanich off crazy tough-angle shot. Check it out. 1-0 Spartans. 17:36 left vs Ind Hills pic.twitter.com/3PuYCxgVmU — Varsity Aces (@VarsityAces) September 19, 2015

There was still work to be done, however. Just over six minutes following Scrivanich’s goal, Indian Hills  — who already has wins over both Ramapo and Ridgewood this season — had, perhaps, its best scoring opportunity of the day.

The Braves’ Meg Chesney broke free near the 18 and faced a one-on-one matchup against DiPasquale, who came out aggressively on the play. Playing the angle perfectly, DiPasquale athletically swatted the hard shot on goal out of harm’s way to preserve Paramus’ 1-0 lead.

“I just trusted my training… and made the save,” DiPasqaule said, modestly downplaying the no-doubt save of the game.

Three minutes later, Paramus’ Shannon O’Brien provided the Spartans with an insurance goal, with Scrivanich credited with the assist after getting a touch on the ball before being knocked down right near the 18. The ball came free and O’Brien, left alone unmarked with only the keeper to beat while inside the box, was there to send it home with 10:15 left.

“We wanted to come out with a lot of fire because we knew Indian Hills was an aggressive team,” DiPasquale said. “This one just came down to who had more fire.”

A fire that eventually was put out with that water-cooler shower, but not before another important Spartans victory.