After defeating Bergen Tech 3-1 in the second round of the North 1, Group 4 tournament, second-seeded Clifton hosted sixth seed West Orange with a chance to play for the sectional title. But just as they thought the game was locked up, disaster struck for the Mustangs.

Despite holding a 1-0 for the majority of the game, Clifton would end up losing 2-1 in overtime as West Orange moved on.

"We had some bad breaks but I though the girls played well," said Dan Chilowicz, head coach of Clifton. "We’ve had some things not fall our way the past few years but I guess it’s just bad karma."

The first 10 minutes of the match was played at midfield as the teams figured each other out. The 13th minute however was all Clifton (15-3-2). Elise Burnett sent a corner kick into the box as Michelle Ferrara headed it in past leaping West Orange goalkeep Nora Crann.

For the next 30 minutes possession of the ball clearly favored the Mustangs who sent a bevy of shots Crann’s way.

Burnett took another corner kick in the 22nd minute and placed it perfectly in front of the net but a scramble ensued for the ball and no shot was taken.

Up 1-0 at the end of the first half, the Mustangs kept up the pressure in the second, forcing West Orange into a defensive strategy.

But that all changed in the 70th minute.

As West Orange pushed up the field, a Clifton player was called for a handball just outside the box, setting up a game-tying direct kick goal off the foot of Sarah Winfield who placed a shot just outside the reach of goalkeep Lianne Maldonado.

Try as it may, Clifton could not score the go ahead goal as time winded down and the game went into overtime. Four minutes in saw the Mustangs’ chance of getting that goal as a corner kick turned into another scramble in front of the net.

As the goalkeep fell down, two West Orange defenders cleared the ball.

With just second remaining, Clifton saw its hopes of a Sectional title dashed as freshman Raven Edwards found her way past a defender after a free kick and knocked in a shot past Maldonado.

After receiving a first round bye, Clifton bested Bergen Tech on the strength of Ferrara’s two goal afternoon.

Maldonado made four saves as Alyssa Robinson scored a goal.