ROXBURY — Sophie D'Egidio had a few words of advice for Chatham teammate Lucy Arps. As Arps placed the ball for a long free kick midway through the first half of the Morris County Tournament final, D'Egidio told her, "Just hit it on target, and someone will be here."
And "lo and behold," Egidio recalled, she was that someone, getting the first goal and propelling the Cougars past West Morris, 2-0, in the Morris County Tournament final. It's their sixth straight title, an unprecedented streak.
This is the third time Chatham has defeated the Wolfpack during that stretch. The Cougars (11-4-2) have also won Group 3 twice over the past five years.
"We knew we had to get an early goal. In order to break them down, we had to get one in," D'Egidio said. "It was really special for me. We have such a good atmosphere and a good vibe. I was overjoyed, because it just means so much to everyone on this team."
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In addition to setting up the initial goal, Arps added an insurance goal with 10:27 left, carrying the ball up the right wing and sending it soaring into the upper corner from about 20 yards out. The Cougars junior was named the MCT MVP for the second time.
Junior goalkeeper Charlotte Nelson, who hasn't allowed a goal in three MCT finals, dedicated the victory to D'Egidio and the rest of the Chatham seniors – who have never lost in the championship match.
But even as the second-seeded Cougars repeated mantras like "this is our tournament," they came into the final off a 5-0 drubbing at Randolph on Oct. 19.
Fifth seed West Morris (12-4-1), meanwhile, was unbeaten in their last 10 matches, toppling sister-school Mendham and top-seeded Randolph en route to the final. The Wolfpack's last loss was against Chatham, 2-0, on Sept. 19.
These teams will play again in an NJAC-American regular-season match on Oct. 27.
"I had to step it up. I had to keep a clean sheet," said Nelson, who made six saves in the final for her ninth shutout. "People say goalkeepers are a different breed. It's something I have in me. I don't get nervous for games. I kind of take it all in when it's happening and play my best, because that's what I can control."
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Chatham girls soccer blanks West Morris to extend MCT streak