Zimmerman's Two Goals Power Madison Into Final

Catherine Zimmerman scored twice as the girls soccer team upended third-seeded Caldwell 2-1 Monday in the North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 state semifinals.

The second-seeded Dodgers will face No. 4 Parsippany in the sectional final on Thursday.

"This is awesome," Zimmerman said. "We are all just really pumped. Madison has not been in this position in something like 20 years. For us to be a part of it, we just want to win."

IN SHORT

In the sixth minute of the second half, Madison had a bouncing ball come across the front of the goal in the penalty area that Zimmerman was able to deflect into the back of the net for what proved to be the game-winning goal.

"The ball was just bouncing around and the ball came to me and I made sure to keep my body over the ball and follow through and I got a good deflection into the side of the net," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman scored the first goal for Madison in similar fashion when she dribbled the ball from 35 yards out, bounced a shot past the Caldwell goalkeeper before tapping the ball into the net with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Two minutes later, Caldwell knotted the score when Gabby Roselle took advantage of a misplayed ball to tie the game at 1.

DODGER OF THE GAME

Catherine Zimmerman, midfield—Besides scoring Madison's goals on the afternoon, Zimmerman was all over the field working the ball forward and stopping Caldwell's advances. 

THEY SAID IT

"We played Caldwell in the first round last year and it went to overtime.  They are always tough. We knew it wasn't going to be easy.  We got a little luck in the box and had someone in the right place at the right time and the bounce of the ball went our way.  I am very proud of the girls."—Madison coach Kevin Lynott

Up Next—Madison will host Parsippany in the finals Thursday, 2 p.m.