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SOCCER

East Brunswick's Krinsky, Old Bridge's Adams share HNT Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors

Harry Frezza
Correspondent
East Brunswick's Lauren Krinsky and Old Bridge's Nichole Adams share HNT Girls Soccer Player of the Year honors

East Brunswick’s Lauren Krinsky and Old Bridge’s Nichole Adams took much different paths to becoming the Home News Tribune’s 2017 Co-Girls Soccer Players of the Year.

Krinsky was expected to be among the best goalies in the state and showed it by leading the Bears to a 19-3-2 record, a share of the Greater Middlesex Tournament championship, a Red Division title and a trip to the program’s first Central Group IV final berth in seven years.

In contrast, Adams was a virtual unknown outside of Old Bridge. The three-year starter was coming off a six-goal season, but matched that total just six games into this season. Adams, who’ll play at Drew University, finished with a team-leading 22 goals, sparking the Knights to an 18-4-2 record and a share of the Greater Middlesex Tournament crown with East Brunswick. The Knights won their first seven games.

Old Bridge's Nichole Adams is HNT Girls Soccer Co-Player of the Year

Krinsky said she wasn’t too familiar with Adams before the season, but Adams began gaining her own spotlight after scoring twice in a 3-1 win over East Brunswick in the third game of the season.

“When we played EB the first time I don’t know if they’d quite planned for Nichole because for the last couple of years she had played outside midfield, more for the team, and in our first meeting with East Brunswick – maybe 10 to 12 minutes into the game – she scored off a throw-in, the second off a corner kick, the second one turned out to be the game winner,” said Old Bridge coach Rob Lozzi.

Seven of Adams’ goals were game-winners. She wanted a forward spot after having played two seasons at left outside mid. Since none of the Knights had “contracts” or guaranteed claims to positions – as Lozzi said – every spot was open in the preseason. Adams turned out to be the team’s best option at forward, said Lozzi.

“She won the position outright, she was our best option at the forward spot,” said Lozzi. “She’s got speed, she’s aggressive, she has a nose for the net, she’s a scorer.”

She had three goals in three games against East Brunswick. She scored one in a 2-1 East Brunswick win in game two between the two. The third meeting was a 1-1 draw in the county final.

“From what I saw of her she is a very hard working, determined and talented player,” said Krinsky, who will play at the University of Delaware. “I think that when things don’t go her way she keeps fighting and never gives up.”

Old Bridge appeared to have a terrific chance of unseating the perennial county champs (the Bears have won all but four of the GMC tourney titles since its start in 1985) after a red card sent one of the Bears off with 22:30 left in regulation. Old Bridge tied the game at 1-1 on Jordan Totten’s goal off a free kick in the 76th minute. Though playing one player down for the rest of the way, East Brunswick held on to a 1-1 tie. Bears’ coach Kevin Brady said it was because of Krinsky.

East Brunswick's Lauren Krinsky is the Home News Tribune's Girls Soccer Co-Player of the Year

“Old Bridge (freshman Emmi DeNovellis) hits a shot from 35 (yards) out and (with about five minutes left in the second overtime) it looked destined for the left corner of the net,” said Brady. “Very few (goalies) could back pedal, shuffle and tip it over the bar. I’m sure everyone thought it was over.”

Krinsky got a fingertip on it.

“You can’t train for that moment you train to get better,” said Krinsky “Our team pulled together in the GMC final, worked for each other and with each other.”

Adams and Krinsky play for different teams in the Rutgers University-based FC Copa academy club league in the off season.

“Her size definitely adds to her skill,” said Adams. “She’s also able to read the game better than most keepers and I give her a lot of credit for that.”

Two days after the county final, East Brunswick and Krinsky started their Central Group IV run with Krinsky getting her 11th shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over South Brunswick. A 2-1 win over Manalapan followed in the sectional quarters. In the section semifinal, Krinsky deflected Hunterdon Central’s final penalty kick to advance the Bears to the sectional final. The Bears blanked powerful Freehold Township for 77 minutes before scoring to tie the game 1-1 and force overtime. Freehold Township was able to beat East Brunswick 2-1 in overtime. Krinsky made a whopping 19 saves.

“What cements her (as a Player of the Year candidate) was that she had her biggest moments in the biggest games,” said Brady. “We don’t advance to those tournament finals without her.”

ALL-GMC GIRLS SOCCER

(selected by league coaches)

ALL-GMC

Cathlene Kaseta (South Brunswick), Lauren Krinsky (East Brunswick), Madison Mandleur (East Brunswick), Sabria Glasgow (East Brunswick), Tayler Muse (Monroe), Gennyka Liebenthal (Monroe), Nichole Adams (Old Bridge), Mackenzie Willis (Old Bridge), Kaitlyn Zeeb (Piscataway), Kelly Silva (Colonia), Jacqueline Ventricelli (Sayreville), Samantha Moxie (Edison), Monica Roca (Edison), Gabby D’Emilio (Woodbridge), Mya Stolarski (Metuchen), Carolina Fernandez (Spotswood), Mia Reyes (Wardlaw-Hartridge), Elizabeth Girvan (Highland Park).

ALL-RED DIVISION

Cathlene Kaseta (South Brunswick), Riley Ratcliffe (South Brunswick), Dana Oglivie (Piscataway), Jordyn Allen (Piscataway), Kaitlyn Zeeb (Piscataway), Tayler Muce (Monroe), Paige Gandy (Monroe), Gennyka Liebenthal (Monroe), Lauren Krinsky (East Brunswick), Madison Mandleur (East Brunswick), Kayla Flynn (East Brunswick), Sabria Glasgow (East Brunswick), Nichole Adams (Old Bridge), Mackenzie Willis (Old Bridge), Lauren Corless (Old Bridge), Mackenzie Cango (Old Bridge), Sarah Zimmer (J.P. Stevens), Caitlyn Shannon (J.P. Stevens).

ALL-WHITE DIVISION

Gabby D’Emilio (Woodbridge), Abigail Luengas (New Brunswick), Samantha Moxie (Edison), Jacqueline Ventricelli (Sayreville), Kelly Silva (Colonia), Danya Reynoso (Perth Amboy), Samantha Persaud (North Brunswick), Julianna Pastore (Bishop Ahr), Monica Roca (Edison), Seaerra Michalsky (Colonia), Anjanie Gilzean (Woodbridge), Stephanie DeOcampo (Sayreville), Arianna Mattis (North Brunswick), Jessica Hoover (Edison), Ryleigh Greenwald (Bishop Ahr), Brianna Hendricks (Colonia), Lauren Attardi (Sayreville), Jordan Wilson (Sayreville).

ALL-BLUE DIVISION

Carolina Fernandez (Spotswood), Amber Meagher (Spotswood), Kaylee Leonard (Spotswood), Randi Wells (Spotswood), Mya Stolarski (Metuchen), Hope Kenny (Metuchen), Rorry Josell (Metuchen), Molly Walters (Metuchen), Skye Nowicki (Metuchen), Mia Reyes (Wardlaw-Hartridge), Bella Wysocki (Wardlaw-Hartridge), Antonella Doglio (Wardlaw-Hartridge), Courtney Smith (South Plainfield), Angele Garcia (Middlesex), Carly Santucci (Middlesex), Caroline Walther (Middlesex), Jacqueline Kelly (J.F. Kennedy), Jaylin Cabrera (J.F. Kennedy).

ALL-GOLD DIVISION

Kimberly Brites (Carteret), Amanda Medvetz (Carteret), Elizabeth Girvan (Highland Park), Gabriela Sanchez (Highland Park), Bailey Nester (Highland Park), Rebecca Ochan (Highland Park), Anna St. Martin (Highland Park), Katie Volpert (Highland Park), Julia Marks (Highland Park), Sarah Knapik (South Amboy), Alejandra Morales (South River), Sophia DiGiovanni (South River), Hailey Zito (South River), Khayla Smith (South River), Lauren Schmidt (South River), Jennie Szabo (South River), Elizabeth Oduro (Timothy Christian), Hannah Stuhl (Timothy Christian).