Torosian leads Lenape in girls' soccer

Natalia Torosian would rather pass than score, but winning is her No. 1 priority. The Lenape senior forward has the ability to dominate a soccer game without ever taking a shot. Her selfless and dominating play was evident yesterday as Lenape defended its South Jersey Coaches Tournament title with a 6-1 win over Moorestown in the championship game at Eastern.

Ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, the Indians improved to 20-0. No. 2 Moorestown (14-3) had its 10-game winning streak snapped.

Torosian was on her game.

She scored a goal, but more fitting was the fact that she contributed three assists. There was no statistic for all the space Torosian allowed her teammates to have because the Quakers were intent on marking her so tightly.

Others in South Jersey may own gaudier statistics than Torosian, who has 10 goals and 15 assists, but few have the ability to elevate their teammates' play as well as the University of Florida recruit.

"She just took the game over," Quakers coach Bill Mulvilll said.

Moorestown scored first on a goal by freshman Hayleigh Dalmass with less than three minutes gone. Dalmass looked as if she was just trying to put a 35-yard shot near the goal, but it ended up carrying into the back of the net.

Lenape, which entered the game with six consecutive shutouts, has not had a lot of practice in coming from behind.

"After that goal, we kept our composure and all we thought about was getting it back," Torosian said.

With under 12 minutes left in the first half, Lenape got the equalizer when Jill Hampton tipped in a cross from Courtney Kovac.

The decisive goal came late in the half on a typical Lenape possession play. Sweeper Kali Mentzer started with a long pass to Torosian on the right flank. Torosian found Katie Duffy near the goal, and Duffy one-timed it for the first of two goals for the afternoon.

Leading by 2-1 at the half, Lenape took over for good early in the second as Torosian set up goals by Duffy and Carlie Mason, and then scored one herself.

"The problem is that Torosian is so tough to stop and Lenape has about nine other players who can hurt you," Mulvihill said.

No one, however, can hurt teams as much as Torosian can.

"I think she is the best player in South Jersey," Indians coach Kevin Meder said. "She makes everybody better."

Moorestown 1 0 - 1

Lenape 2 4 - 6

Goals: M–Hayleigh Dalmass. L–Jill Hampton, Katie Duffy 2, Carlie Mason, Natalia Torosian, Deanna Cybulski.

Saves: M–Erika McCool and Lea Derosa 7. L–Sarah Zieman and Allison Johnson 2.