Girls' soccer: King leads Winslow past Triton

By Phil Anastasia

Tziarra King knew it was going to be a special day when her direct kick ricocheted off the right post and into the net.

That was her second goal of the game and she figured it was a dead giveaway.

But her first goal was something of a sign, too.

And so was her third . . . and her fourth . . . and her fifth.

King, a junior at Winslow Township, said she never scored five goals in a high school game in her career. She picked a good time to set a personal record.

King's five goals lifted 11th-seeded Winslow Township to a 5-4 victory over 6th-seeded Triton on Tuesday in the first round of the South Jersey Group 3 girls' soccer tournament.

"The bigger the game, the better she plays," Winslow Township coach Bruce Stowell said of King. "She was unstoppable."

The victory sent Winslow Township (13-6) into Friday's second-round game against third-seeded Moorestown or 14th-seeded Cumberland.

More importantly, from King's perspective, the outcome extended and expanded a season-long drive to raise the profile of the Eagles' program.

"It's very important to me," King said. "I've played soccer in Winslow my whole life.

"We're trying to make a name for Winslow soccer. We don't want people to say, 'Oh, Winslow, that's not a good soccer team.'"

The loss was ended the careers of 12 Triton seniors, including St. Joseph recruit Paige Bergman, who led a late rally that nearly sent the game into overtime.

Bergman, who finished the season with 34 goals and her career with 88 goals, was just high with a shot in the final minute as Triton tried desperately to score the equalizer.

"I'm extremely proud of these girls," Triton coach Holly O'Donnell said after the Mustangs finished with 13-5 record. "They played hard right to the end."

Triton took a 1-0 lead just one minute and 25 seconds into the game when Gabrielle Urban scored off a feed from Rebecca Dolhansky.

But King answered about a minute later, manuevering around a defender and left-footing a low shot into the right corner.

With 25:14 remaining in the first half, King gave Winslow Township the lead for good when her direct kick from about 25 yards hit the right post and caromed into the left panel of the net.

"I was kind of shocked," King said.

Moments later, King poked the ball past a defender at midfield, broke free, deked the goalie and deposited her third goal. She had a hat trick 23 minutes and 20 seconds into the game.

"She's a tremendous player," O'Donnell said of King. "We didn't have an answer for her."

She scored four goals in the first half. She added a fifth for a 5-2 lead with 9:03 remaining in the game. All five of her goals were unassisted.

"I had a good warmup and it just carried over," said King, who increased her season total to 34 goals.

King has commited to North Carolina State. She said she plays club soccer for the Winslow Tigers.

She spent her freshman year at Our Lady of Mercy Academy. She sat out the first 30 days of her sophomore year, and Winslow didn't win a game until she became eligible.

This season, the Eagles have set a program record for victories along with advancing to the second round of the state tournament.

"This is huge," King said of the playoff victory. "This lets people know what Winslow is here to win. We put ourselves on the map."

Winslow Twp. 4 1 -- 5

Triton 2 2 -- 4

Goals: W-Tziarra King 5; T-Gabrielle Urban, Hannah Urban, Olivia DeCaro, Michaella Paradiso.

Saves: W-Danielle Breen, 5; T-Liz DiCamillo, 6.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

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