Lancers look for a repeat of last season’s success
St. John Vianney girls soccer team set to defend state championship
JEFF HUNTLEY St. John Vianney’s Jamie Komar will be one of the Lady Lancers’ leaders on the soccer field this season, as the squad looks to defend its Parochial A state championship.
Last year’s dramatic state championship is now a memory, and it’s time to get back to work. Fortunately, a veteran cast returns, as the St. John Vianney High School girls soccer team prepares to defend its NJSIAA Parochial A title.
The Holmdel Lancers went 21-1 last year en route to their first state crown and their first Shore Conference championship. Along the way, the girls topped their biggest rival, Red Bank Catholic, 2-1, in the Shore Conference Tournament final, and knocked off the nation’s top-ranked team, Immaculate Heart Academy of Westwood, 1-0, in the Parochial A final.
It was a remarkable run for a team of over-achievers, being led by a first-year coach.
But the Lancers are out to prove that last year was not a one-time thing. St. John Vianney is looking to create the type of soccer program that fields a championship-caliber squad every year, and the Lancers are confident that last year’s success was the perfect start for such an uprising.
However, St. John’s will be without four-year starter Tami Coyle, arguably the best player in the Shore last season, who graduated in June and will be playing soccer for Rider University this fall.
Coyle’s leadership was instrumental on the field, as she became the main catalyst of last year’s dream season.
Nevertheless, there are many positives, coach Mike Alosco points out. For one thing, the Lancers have eight starters back.
For another, the team will now play its games on new fields on the school grounds. In addition, about 45 athletes are now participating in the program, and for the first time, St. John’s will field a freshman team.
"It’s an exciting time for us," said Alosco, who is entering his second season at the helm. "Anytime you lose a player with the talent of Tami Coyle, it creates a big hole, but we have a lot of talent here, and while we know it’s hard to repeat [as state champs], we’re going to try our best."
Four seniors will give the Lancers solid leadership throughout the lineup. Midfielders Allison Regler, who scored 14 goals and added 14 assists, and Dana Lewis will be in the middle.
Jackie Buckler is back at sweeper, where she leads the transition from defense to offense, and Danielle Michaels will anchor the defense.
Sophomore Briana Gilmartin will be looking to add to last year’s totals of 14 goals and nine assists, while Jaime Komar, two goals and 18 assists, will bring her playmaking skills to the front line, although Alosco will also use her in the middle. Another sophomore, Christina Sadlak, will join the offense.
A year ago, the Lancers permitted just eight goals. This time out St. John’s will be going with a new goalie as Cheri Wittlieb, who turned in 15 shutouts last year, has opted to concentrate on basketball.
Sophomore Trish Carbone, the junior varsity netminder last fall, is likely to move up, but junior Catherine Rowland and freshman Kaila O’Donnell will also challenge for the job.
The defense in front of the net should be sound. Although Deanna Contri graduated, the rest of the fullbacking crew is intact. In addition to Michaels, junior Deirdre Murray and sophomore Melanie Ondrejik, return on the backline.
According to Alosco, the Lancers may not suffer the fate of many state champions, looking to regain the glory of the previous year. In fact, the coach is confident the Lancers may have another state title run in them.
"This is a fast team, maybe a little faster than last year, and the girls can move the ball around very quickly," Alosco said. "That will help us keep the ball out of our defensive zone and set up our scoring opportunities."
Over the years, Shore teams and fans have grown accustomed to expecting big things from the St. John Vianney girls basketball team. But it appears that the school is looking to add another team to its list of perennial powerhouses.
A state championship and a 21-1 record is a tough act to follow, but as the school’s girls basketball program has proved over the years, success breeds success.

