Sophomores Step Up For Colts Neck In OT Win Over Midd. South

MIDDLETOWN – It was a big day for sophomores in Colts Neck’s 2-1 overtime win over Middletown South in the Shore Conference girls soccer tournament quarterfinal game Monday.
The Cougars won the game in an overtime thriller, 2-1, and it was a pair of sophomores who scored the goals.
Ori Laki scored the game winning goal just 37 seconds into the first overtime when she took a pass from Tori Pantaleo, got past a defender and knocked the ball into the back of the net from about 10 yards away.
“It was a long goal from the back, where I  read it from the outside and came running in and I knocked it past the goalie before she tripped me,”  Laki said.
“This was my fifth goal this year and the first time I ever won an overtime game with a goal,” said Laki. “It was an amazing feeling the game was finally over.”
“There was no play on that goal,” said Colts Neck coach Doug Phillips. “It was a great threw ball and a great finish by a great forward.
“Ori has been playing well for us,” said Phillips. “I use her in a lot of different spots and it depends on how we’re using her.”
Following a scoreless first half in which both teams missed several good scoring opportunities, Middletown South broke the ice at 36:52 when senior Bridget Skinner was awarded a free kick after being tripped, and lined the ball into the right side of the net.
Colts Neck tied the game at 1 when sophomore Meaghan Mulligan took a corner throw in by Michelle Post and headed it in just in front of the net.
“Michelle played a great ball across,” said Mulligan. “Their goalie (Lauren Van Exter)got her finger tips on it. I was in the right position and I just found the net.”