No. 8 Clearview upsets No. 1 Eastern in penalty kicks to advance to South Group 4 semifinals

The Clearview girls' soccer team upset top-seeded and previously unbeaten Eastern on penalty kicks, 4-2, in the South Group 4 quarterfinals. Senior Viviana Caamano struck the game-winner as the fifth kicker. Eastern hit the post on its first shot, missed the second kick and had its fourth kick saved by Clearview keeper McKenna Dalfonso.

Dalfonso came up big for the Pioneers with 18 saves in the win.

After a scoreless first half, Emma Bitar got Eastern on the board first off an assist from Riley Tiernan. Elizabeth Bonomo equalized later in the half off a service from Jackie Norris. Norris won a physical battle before slotting a pass across the box that Bonomo finished into the back of the net. Bonomo also tallied the game-winner against Cherokee in Clearview's first round win earlier this week.

Clearview head coach Dan Matozzo attributed the win to the team's belief in each other.

"I think they believe in each other and they just have experienced some different things this season that prepared them," he said. "We've won an overtime game [and] we've lost an overtime game. They just believe in each other and that's the most important thing in the postseason."

Next up for No. 8 Clearview is fourth-seeded Toms River North on Monday in the semifinals. It is a familiar foe for the Pioneers and they won't be spending much time celebrating this win.

"No celebration, it's only round two. Enjoy it tonight and then tomorrow we get ready for Toms River," Matozzo said. "They beat us last year in the second round of postseason so there's some history there."