CN Girls Soccer Preview Capsules: Union County, Independents, northwest GMC
UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE
GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON
Coach: Mike Roof, 14th season
Last year’s record: 9-11
Top lettermen lost: Sarah Pasquale (M), Alice Caballero (D), Lindsay DiStaso (F), Logan Boenning (F/M), Jackie Goldbeck (D), Kristen Splaine (F), Caitlyn Splaine (D), Olivia Emanuel (GK), Rachel Siegel (M), Amanda Bostwick (M), Grace Tesoro (D), Vanessa Candeloro (D).
Returners: Riley Jankowski (Sr., M), Hannah Penington (Sr., M), Emily Kiernan (Sr., M/D), Meghan Place (Sr., M), Meera Savage (Sr., GK), Lara Romano (Sr., F), Catalina Abusada (So., F), Ashley Echeverry (Jr., M), Anna Pasquale (Jr., D), Maggie Zecca (Jr., F), Paige Collins (Sr., M).
Newcomers: Claire Donfield (So., F), Ava Delargy (Jr., D), Stacey Berliner (Jr., D), Caroline Peer (Jr., M), Erin Splaine (So., F), Emily Pires (So., F), Sarah Polizzi (Jr., D), Sarah Bachert (Jr., M), Michelle Coyle (Jr., GK).
Outlook: The Highlanders were hit hard by graduation, losing 12 players, and while this team has upside, it might take some time for them to hit their stride as the newcomers acclimate to the varsity game. Roof said he feels he has some talented kids who can create, but GL will have to take its chances in front of the goal and not be wasteful in order to have sustained success. The Highlanders also have to understand their defensive responsibilities and not be careless with the ball, he said. Roof expects the girls who had some success offensively for GL last year to expand their roles and points totals. Abusada and Zecca, as well as returning senior Lara Romano, are among the Highlanders striking options, with Donfield also expected to contribute. Riley Jankowski is expected to lead in the central midfield, along with Place and Collins, with Echeverry also contributing as an attacking mid. Penington and Peer should have an impact from outside. The Highlanders will have to replace their entire backline and keeper, and Roof is looking to Delargy, Kiernan and Berliner to step up in front of what will begin the season as a timeshare in goal between Savage and Coyle.
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NEW PROVIDENCE
Coach: Scott Murphy, 13th season
Last year’s record: 8-14
Top lettermen lost: Maggie Roughley (M), Jen Maluso (GK), Megan Mahlstadt (M), Lexi Everton (F).
Returners: Brielle Carleen (Sr., DF), Riley Kinum (Jr., M), Rebecca Pappas (Sr., DF), Kelly Sherman (Sr., DF), Alana Ponte (So., M), Olivia Faucher (So., F), Nicole Fusco (So., DF), Amanda Maurer (Jr., F), Jordan Detlet (Sr., F), Rachel Trackhim (Sr., F), Jessica Trackhim (Sr., DF), Natalie Pereira (Sr., M).
Newcomers: Jessie Brenner (Jr., M), Caroline Zoufaly (Jr., M), Erin Lamanna (So., GK), Maddy Engelbrechtsen (Fr., F/M), Juliana DeGeorge (Fr., M), Paola Salazar (Fr., M).
Outlook: The Pioneers return six starters in addition to many girls who gained valuable varsity experience. Combine that with a group of younger talent and New Providence is in position to improve on its eight wins from 2015. Murphy said his team has been working hard all summer and has really displayed improved ability to possess the ball and play at a faster pace. The two-time Courier News Girls Soccer Coach of the Year said his goal is to win a conference and sectional title, and with junior Kinum anchoring the midfield while sophomores Fusco, Faucher and Ponte are poised to have breakout seasons, this year could prove to be successful for New Providence.
PLAINFIELD
Coach: Keith Pellew, first season
Last year’s record: 4-12
Top lettermen lost: Keyanna Bagley (M), Melanie Dennis (DF), Jazmin Lucero (M).
Returners: Ilse Ibarra (Sr., DF), Jeanne Salguero (Sr., M), Johanna Sailema (Sr., M), Brianna Bonilla (So., M), Vanessa Aguirre (Sr., DF), Laura Orrego (Sr., DF), Gina Watkins (Sr., F), Sheilah Sarpong (Sr., F), Angel Branch (Jr., GK).
Newcomers: Jackeline Pineda (Sr., F), Jacqueline Camacho (So., M), Anna Rodriguez (Fr., F), Kelly Coca (Jr., DF), Keli Guardado (Jr., F), Jessica Altamirano (Sr., DF), Beverly Bennett (Jr., DF), Sidney Gallardo (So., M).
Outlook: Pellew feels that this could be the most successful season in Cardinals history with a strong midfield and a talented set of strikers in Watkins and Sarpong. Isbarra, Orrego and sweeper Aguirre will protect junior goalkeeper Branch. Pellew said that this year’s newcomers have added much needed depth to the Plainfield bench and will aid them in their pursuit of a conference championship.
SCOTCH PLAINS-FANWOOD
Coach: Kevin Ewing, 15th season
Last year’s record: 20-2-2
Top lettermen lost: Caroline Babis (D), Jillian Lapidus (M), Annie Pierce (M), Kayla Diggs (F).
Returners: Erika Muskus (Jr., F), Kerri McNeely (Jr., F), Katie Mrozek (Jr., M), Alyssa DiFrancesco (Sr., M), Taylor Diggs (JR., D), Ashley Vincent (Jr., D), Christina Rodgers (Sr., M), Sophie Brause (Sr., M), Andrea Leitner (Sr., GK). Sabrina Dillolo (Jr., M/F).
Newcomers: Gina Fahrenholz (Jr., D)
Outlook: The six-time defending Union County Tournament champs.have the potential to make another run at a sectional title, like they won two years ago,, but, Ewing said, his club will have to show consistency. If they do, this club certainly has the upside for a special season. Rodgers, a Providence-bound midfielder and four-year starter, returns to lead the midfield, along with Brause, a fellow-four-year starter, and DiFrancesco, a four-year letterwinner. Vincent and Diggs help anchor the backline in front of Leitner, who is also in her fourth year starting for SPF. The attack is still in flux, although Ewing said he is likely to go with a balanced approach to goal scoring, something that served the Raiders well a year ago.
UNION CATHOLIC
Coach: Jim Revel, 28th season
Last year’s record: 15-7-2
Top lettermen lost: Annie Hogarty (M), Gabi Martes (M), Gabby Sluka (DF).
Returners: Chynna Adorna (Sr., F), Olivia Yarem (Jr., F), AJ Scheiderman (Sr., M), Ashley Ferrigno (Jr., M), Isabel Santiago (Sr., DF), Cassie Lamadieu (Sr., DF), Izzy DiDario (Jr., GK), Julia Bonnocorso (Sr., DF).
Newcomers: Coral Bieber (So.).
Outlook: With many returners and a mostly experienced team, the Vikings will look to have another successful season contending with a tough Union County Conference. Adorno, Union Catholic's leading scorer, returns to lead the attack along with Yarem who is just as lethal a shot. Scheidermann will be the leading midfielder while Santiago, Lamadieu and DiDario will hold it down in the back.
WESTFIELD
Coach: Alex Schmidt, eighth season
Last year’s record: 12-5-2
Top lettermen lost: None.
Returners: Taylor Morgan (Sr., M), Raffi Laitamaki (Sr., DF), Liz Brucia (Sr., GK), Logan Robertson (Sr., M), Lea Moynihan (Sr., F), Hannah Liddy (Sr., F), Haley Farella (Sr., M), Sonya Peregrim (Sr., M), Sara Israel (Sr., DF), Carly Bechtloff (Sr., M), Natalie Bond (Jr., DF), Grace Elliott (Jr., M), Melina McDevitt (Jr., M), Elizabeth Skoletsky (Jr., DF), Ashley Gigon (Jr., M), Josie Greenwood (Jr., M).
Newcomers: Kylinn Kraemer (Jr., F).
Outlook: The Blue Devils return their complete starting lineup from last season, which should make them one of the biggest threats in the Union County Conference. Four-year starter and Alabama University commit Taylor Morgan will captain the veteran Westfield team along with Liz Brucia, who will attend the University of Georgia to continue her career, and Raffi Laitamaki. Schhmidt said that the goals for this season are to win the conference, to end Scotch Plains-Fanwood's perennial reign as UCT champion and to make a run through the state tournament.
INDEPENDENT
SOMERSET TECH
Coach: Jeff Donaldson, first season
Last year's record: 7-11
Top lettermen lost: Kaycie Sconda, Harleen Singh, Millie Doshi, Hannah Lukac, Mitali Shah, Julianna Kosty, Alajandra Cortes.
Returners: Kristen Fernandez, Madhavi Rana Sarah Yagual, Kate Kelly, Jenna Molfetta, Emily Heathcote, Ajshe Vucetaj, Novena Petryk Cordi, Brianna Roper, Yessenia Martinez, Libby Atkins, Jessica D'Agostino, Molly Foster.
Newcomers: Sonia Purohit, Brittany Rojas, Lily Change, Elizabeth Gershater, Carolyn Romero, Kimberly Vasquez, Sarah Sconda, Rebeka Quagliato, Hayley Terrero.
Outlook: Donaldson takes over as head coach for Jack O'Neill, the only coach the 6-year-old program has known, and the Runnin' Jags will look to constantly and consistently improve. The projected starters will be Fernandez, Rana, Yagual, Molfetta, Martinez, Foster, Purohit, Kelly, Petryk Cordi, Roper and Terrero. Somerset Tech's biggest challenge is to overcome the graduation loss of four-year stater Harleen Singh, the program's all-time leading scorer.
GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE
RED DIVISION
PISCATAWAY
Coach: Jen Vroman, 4th season
Last year’s record: 9-9
Top lettermen lost: Erin Bushinski, Jackie McEvoy, Courtney Culp
Key returners: Lela Allen (Sr., F), Ayana Garvin (Sr., M), Janiah Lambert (Sr., D), Briana Chapman (Sr., D), Tasha Spruiel (Sr., F)
Newcomers: Jordyn Allen (Fr., M), Michelle Williams (Fr., D), Kaitlyn Zeeb (Fr., M), Hunter Samuel (Fr., F), Dana Ogilvie (Fr., GK)
Outlook: With most of last season’s starting lineup returning from last season and a very strong freshman class arriving, look for the Chiefs to improve upon last year’s 9-9 record. Senior forward Lela Allen, who scored 20 goals a season ago, will once again lead Piscataway on offense. After tearing her ACL midseason last year, senior midfielder Ayana Garvin will look to rebound this fall. Freshman midfielder and Lela’s sister Jordyn Allen will immediately start and make an impact. Defensively, seniors Janiah Lambert and Briana Chapman should combine for a solid backline.
BLUE DIVISION
MIDDLESEX
Coach: Tim Morris, 4th season
Last year’s record: 10-9-2
Top lettermen lost: Katie Nicholson, Madeline McCrone, Marissa Guiducci, Katie LaCapria, Zakiya Beckles, Danielle Tomore
Key returners: Mackenzie Meixner (Sr., M), Nicole Fallon (Sr., GK), Carly Santucci (So., M), Angele Garcia (So., F), Alex Carmona (So., D), Kara Krivanos (So., M), Bridget McCrone (So., D), Caroline Walther (Jr., D)
Newcomers: Amanda Cespedes (Fr., F), Danielle Cisneros (Fr., M), Samantha Nordhaus (Fr., D), Rebecca Nordhaus (So., F)
Outlook: After a successful season last year, the Blue Jays look to make deeper runs in the county and state tournaments this season. Senior goalkeeper Nicole Fallon is back in goal and will have help on defense from returning backs Caroline Walther, Bridget McCrone and Alex Carmona. With Katie Nicholson’s 12 goals and 12 assists having graduated in the spring, it will up to Angele Garcia (eight goals), Mackenzie Meixner (eight goals, five assists) and Carly Santucci (seven goals) to pick up the slack on offense.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD
Coach: Paulo Correia, 3rd season
Last year’s record: 3-13-2
Top lettermen lost: N/A
Key returners: Claire Nagel (Sr., F/M), Grace Ochoa (Sr., D)
Newcomers: N/A
Outlook: Claire Nagel (nine goals) returns for her senior campaign and is poised to once again lead the Tigers in scoring. Senior Grace Ochoa will lead the defensive effort this season. South Plainfield looks to make incremental improvements in the division and the county tournament.
WARDLAW-HARTRIDGE
Coach: Mike Romeo, 3rd season
Last year’s record: 17-5-1
Top lettermen lost: Alex Garces, Fiorella Doglio, Lacey Gress, Lauren Yates, Ciara Varley, Laura Arriaza
Key returners: Carlin Schlidge (Sr., M), Allison Haley (Sr., D), Mia Reyes (Jr., M), Antonella Doglio (So., M), Sofia Ambrosio (So., F), Alex DeSousa (So., M)
Newcomers: Joullianna Collado (So., D), Jane Anderson-Schmitt (Fr., M), Amanda Jenkins (Fr., D)
Outlook: After graduating six seniors with over 350 career varsity starts combined, it will be difficult, but not impossible, for the Rams to three peat as Blue Division champions. Wardlaw-Hartridge’s midfield may be young, but it’s also very dangerous. Sophomore Sofia Ambrosio (17 goals) should lead the Rams in scoring once again while junior Mia Reyes (six goals, 15 assists) and sophomore Antonella Doglio create depth at midfield. It will be tough to replace last season’s goalkeeper Lacey Gress, but junior Hannah Yates has shown promise during the preseason. The Rams lost three of their four defensive starters, so it is up to senior Allison Haley, the only returning defensive starter, to keep the unit together.