Lamenza tallies two in TJ’s first-round win

By Ashley Chase

MVI Sports

Seventh-seeded Thomas Jefferson survived and advanced with a 3-1 victory over No. 10 Kiski in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A girls soccer playoffs Monday at Thomas Jefferson High School Stadium.

Thomas Jefferson (14-2-1) had the better part of possession in the opening 40 minutes, though Kiski (8-7-2) was able to disrupt the Jaguars’ momentum and scoring opportunities, nearly all the way to the halftime horn.

Freshman forward Natalie Lamenza continued her scoring prowess with a pair of goals, including a boot to the back of the net with time winding down in the first half.

A contested ball sailed straight up, high off the foot of a Kiski player and came down for a perfectly lined up header by sophomore midfielder Ashley Sukal. Sukal’s header found the foot of Lamenza who kicked the shot from the right of the cage, past Kiski keeper Maxine Crosby, who came charging out to play the ball, to no avail. Crosby left the game injured and did not return. 

Kiski was without a backup goalkeeper and freshman Carly Shupe was the lone player willing to come in for the Cavaliers and step into the goal.

“We’re sticking to what works. We try to keep the field as big as we can, keep it simple, don’t overplay and just keep pounding it,” TJ head coach Sean Richter said. “Fortunately for us, we’re really well balanced. Our defensive line is solid. I was comfortable with where we were at half but I felt like it was coming.”

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