Metuchen girls team will build off stellar year METUCHEN - The Metuchen High School girls soccer team duplicated a feat matched only by the 1988 and 1990 teams by reaching the NJSIAA Group I title game, but like the teams of years past, the 2006 team fell one victory short of obtaining the ultimate goal, with a 2-1 loss to Kinnelon. The two teams played a scoreless first half before the Bulldogs responded right away in the second half when Kamila Lapkiewicz netted the go-ahead goal less than two minutes into the half. Lapkiewicz's third goal of the season came off an assist from Metuchen's Jane Barrett. "I told my players they had two choices," Metuchen head coach Val Gazda said. "They could either stand and watch Kinnelon win the championship or they could step it up and win. They came pretty darn close to winning it." Unfortunately, Lapkiewicz's goal would not be enough, as Kinnelon's Meghan Flood scored the equalizer in the 62nd minute and the game-winner with 1:24 left in regulation to defeat the Bulldogs. "Our defense shut down Kinnelon's leading scorer, but that just wasn't enough," Gazda said. "It really was an amazing game, and our team definitely didn't disappoint anybody with our play. I can't be sure the Kinnelon coach expected that kind of a game from us." With the loss, the Bulldogs fell to 18-3-1 on the year and said goodbye to four seniors: Susan Golbe, Jane Barrett, Molly Hampsey and Olenka Szynwelski. "Our seniors came to play with a positive attitude that taught the girls under them what it meant to be a leader of the team," Gazda said. "Collectively, they were a big reason we went undefeated in the Blue Division, were Central Jersey Group I champions, and a Group I finalist." The Dogs will lose some firepower with the departure of Golbe and the 21 goals she scored this season, but the future of the program looks secure with a number of talented players expected to return to the pitch in 2007. "We definitely have a good group coming back," Gazda said. "This season was a positive influence for the team, and if you ask them if they think they'll be back in a Group I final, they'll say yes." In addition to the returnees from this year's squad, a nice crop is expected up from the JV and freshman ranks. "We have a number of strong younger players looking to make the jump to varsity next season," Gazda said. "Our success the past two seasons has proven contagious, and the soccer community here at Metuchen is definitely headed in the right direction. To see how far the program has come since 1990 - it's apples and oranges. It was certainly disappointing to lose in the finals, but we'll be back." - Shawn Layton