IN THE NEWS: MSDA Soccer & Volleyball in State Tournaments

CALDWELL – The Mount St. Dominic Academy soccer and volleyball teams are scheduled to play in the state tournament this week.

The soccer team, with a record of 8-10-1, is headed for the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public A tournament.

The Lions, seeded fifth, defeated 12th-seeded Holy Angels, 2-1, in the first round of the tournament Tuesday, Nov. 2.

“We played well. Our defense really came through. It was 0-0 at halftime. We scored two goals in the beginning of the second half, one goal by sophomore Eliza Haghighi and one by senior Gianna Mangilli,” said head coach Angelo Del Vecchio. “Holy Angels is a tough team and scored a late goal. We were able to hold on in the end. It was a very good game.”

Saheli Davitt registered an assist. Frankie Mansfield had three saves, and Christina Piparo had one save in goal.

The Lions will face Morristown-Beard, the 13th seed, in the quarterfinal round Friday, Nov. 5. Morristown-Beard upset fourth-seeded Dwight-Englewood in the first round.

“It will be a tough go no matter where we are seeded because there are a lot of good teams in our group,” Del Vecchio said before the tournament. “We have to continue to get better each day. This has been our goal throughout the season. We have to play the kind of soccer that we have been playing recently.”

The Mount concluded the regular season with a 3-0 victory over Caldwell on Friday, Oct. 29. Mangilli scored twice. Caitlin Caufield scored one goal. Mary Hidalik and Maria Hoelevas each added an assist. Piparo had three saves, and Mansfield had two saves.

The Lions were the 13th seed in the Essex County Tournament. They played to a scoreless tie but lost in a shootout after two overtimes in the quarterfinal round against fifth-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy on Oct. 9.

The Lions upset fourth-seeded Newark Academy, 2-1, in the first round of the Essex County Tournament on Oct. 6.

“Since the start of the Essex County Tournament, we have been playing our best soccer,” Del Vecchio said.

Volleyball

The volleyball team, with a 17-8 record, will begin its quest for a state title this week.

The Lions are the top seed in the NJSIAA Non-Public, Group B tournament. They are set to face 16th-seeded DePaul in the first round of the tournament Thursday, Nov. 4.

The Mount was the seventh seed in the Essex County Tournament. The team defeated 10th-seeded Montclair, 2-0, in the first round Oct. 18. The Lions lost to second-seeded Montclair Kimberley Academy, 2-0, in the quarterfinals Oct. 19.

The Mount was 4-4 to conclude the regular season. The team defeated Bloomfield, 2-1, on Oct. 13; East Orange, 2-0, on Oct. 20, and Roselle Catholic, 2-0, on Monday, Nov. 1.

The Lions lost to Clifton, 2-1, on Oct. 22; Montclair Kimberley, 2-0, on Oct. 25; and Union Catholic, 2-0, on Thursday, Oct. 28.