Stateliners' rally falls short in sectional semifinals

Forwards Katie Decker and Lauren Nunes led a second-half charge with goals, but Phillipsburg's field hockey team didn't have enough to complete what would have been a tremendous comeback.

Jillian Alonzo scored twice and Jessie Kent-Cutillo added another score as second-seeded Montclair held on for a 3-2 win over sixth-seeded Phillipsburg on Friday in a North 1, Group 4 semifinal clash on the turf at Watchung Elementary school in Montclair.

Alonzo, the team's leading scorer with 17 goals, knocked in the decisive goal with 4:47 left in the game. Montclair (10-6-4) will meet top-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan (19-3), winner of six straight titles and an 8-0 winner over Randolph in the other semifinal, for the championship on Monday.

Phillipsburg (10-11), which had won four straight coming in, saw its season end with the loss after a tremendous postseason run in which the Warren County school knocked off No. 11 North Hunterdon (3-1 on Oct. 26) and Westfield (2-1 on Monday) to reach the semifinals.

First-year coach Jennifer Paulus' team fell behind, 2-0, in the first half before storming back with a pair of goals in the first 12 minutes of the second half.

Decker, a junior who was outstanding down the stretch, knocked in her ninth of the season with 26:18 remaining. Nunes, last year's leading scorer, evened the game just eight minutes later with her ninth goal of the season. Senior midfielder Cassie Fortuna assisted on both scores.

Phillipsburg's offense totaled 13 goals in its final five games. Decker helped lead the way with five goals in that stretch.

The 2010 Stateliners were denied a chance to play Montclair in last year's title game after being declared ineligible for playing too many games following an 8-1 win over Vernon in the semifinals. Phillipsburg is now 1-3 against Montclair in postseason meeting dating to 2005.

Coach Mary Pat Mercuro's Huskies are seeking the Essex County school's second straight sectional title and 10th overall.

Phillipsburg (10-11)                  0                   2               --   2
Montclair (10-6-4)                     2                   1               --   3

Scoring

First half -- M, Jessie Kent-Cutillo, 6th; M, Jillian Alonzo, 16th.

Second half -- P, Katie Decker, 9th, (Cassie Fortuna), 26:18; P, Lauren Nunes, 9th, (Fortuna), 18:40; M, Alonzo, 17th, (Cara Riordan), 4:47.

Shots -- Phillipsburg 6; Montclair 9.

Saves -- Brittany Lavin 6 (P); Katie Cantine 4 (M).