WEST ORANGE, NJ – The West Orange High School varsity girls’ soccer team concluded an historic season.
The Lady Mountaineers, under second-year head coach Sean DeVore, finished the season unbeaten at 13-0-5. They won the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division championship and were the first state-ranked team in program history.
West Orange ended the season with a tough loss at Livingston in a penalty kick shootout in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 state tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, Nov. 2.
West Orange, seeded fifth, took a 1-0 lead on a great goal by junior Nyah Harper on a service from sophomore Natalie Nevins. Livingston, seeded fourth, tied it 1-1 with 20 minutes left.
“The game went to a PK shootout where we lost, but the girls did an absolutely fantastic job,” said DeVore of his team. “All of the coaches are very proud of their great year.”
The PK loss is viewed as a tie in the won-loss team record.
West Orange and Livingston played to a 3-3 tie on Oct. 12 on Oct. 12 in a SEC non division game. Livingston competes in the highest division of the SEC.
WOHS was the No. 1 seed in the Essex County Tournament in which it lost to Montclair Kimberley Academy in a PK shootout in the semifinals on Oct. 25.
With a strong returning core, DeVore is excited about next season.
“We will be returning nine starters next year and also have a lot of great players coming up so the future is bright from West Orange girls soccer!” said DeVore.
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