Haddonfield girls advance on Julia Parker's goal

It was the most unforgettable play of Julia Parker's career.

Except she doesn't exactly remember it.

"Honestly, I don't remember heading the ball into the goal," Parker said of her game-winning goal in Haddonfield's 1-0 victory over Robbinsville in the Group 2 state semifinals in girls' soccer.

Parker's header off a corner kick from sophomore Nic Green in the game's 65th minute was the difference as Haddonfield (25-1) advanced to face Parsippany Hills in the Group 2 state championship game Saturday morning at Kean University.

"For our little town, this is big," Green said after the taut battle on the cold turf at LaRosa Field on the campus of St. Augustine Prep in Richland, Atlantic County.

Green curl a corner kick to the near post and Parker, a junior, fought through traffic to knock home the game's only goal.

"Just a perfect timing play," Haddonfield coach Lori Quintavalle said.

The other key to Haddonfield's victory was its defense of Robbinsville's five corners in the second half.

The Central Jersey champions (12-8-1) never came close to a good scoring opportunity on those chances, as Haddonfield players clear away chance after chance.

"We work on those every day," Green said. "We just had the mindset, 'This is our box.'"

Parker said she recalled the moments before scoring the game's lone goal, and the excitement afterward - but not the goal itself.

"I remember thinking, 'All right, don't get in too early,' " Parker said. "I saw it coming and I don't even remember what happened after that. I just remember seeing it in the goal and being so estatic."

Robbinsville 0 0 - 0

Haddonfield 0 1 - 1

Goals: H-Julia Parker.

Saves: H-Maya Olimpio 6; R-Jamie Skarupsky 5.