Experience a plus for SBHS girls soccer team

By: Carolyn M. Hartko
   Last fall was the first season in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Red Division for the South Brunswick High School girls’ soccer program, and the Lady Vikings have the bruises to prove it. The 2000 varsity squad finished up 4-6 in their new flight, 9-10 overall.
   The good news is that South Brunswick only lost three seniors last June, two starting defenders, and a midfield sub. That leaves a solid base of returning players to build on, although the starting lineup is not quite set. The key to putting it all together this year is finding a new stopper to free up Cherise Johnson. The senior Viking is used to controlling the center of the field, and second year head coach Nancy Ducko would like to have her strong foot a little closer to the goal.
   "I’d like to move Cherise up to center-mid," the coach said. "But if I can’t move her up, obviously, she’ll be my stopper."
   The ultimate line of defense is set, with senior Rebecca Dezan returning in the nets. This year, she’ll be backed up by junior Jami Leibering. Junior Alissa Goldsmith returns as sweeper, and seniors Lindsey Hanlon and Jen Gaze will switch off with junior Ashley Pierre-Morgan as outside backs.
   In an ideal scenario, C. Johnson will start in center half, with classmate Monica Mangual on one side. Others expected to see time in the midfield include juniors Arianne Aucoin, Jessica Davis and Deana Bollaci, and sophomore Leia Rispoli.
   The offense should be a strength with top scorer Kiana Johnson returning to the frontline. Kiana, Cherise’s twin sister, led the team in both goals (13) and assists (nine) last year. If Cherise can remain in the midfield, junior Tanya Earl will play off Kiana on the attack. They will have help from sophomore Alyssa Bollaci (Deana’s younger sister).
   "If I have to move Cherise back, then I’ll have to move Tanya back (to center midfield)," Ducko said. "Actually, it’s really going to depend on who we’re playing, but I’d like to see Tanya up there with Kiana. But Tanya’s such a strong player — she’s always playing offense and defense — that we may have to move her to the middle because I can get a lot out of her there."
   So far, South has only gotten part of a scrimmage in during pre-season. Tuesday’s game against West Windsor-Plainsboro/South was called in the middle because of weather. The Vikings were down two goals by the time the thunder rolled in.
   "The girls played well," Ducko said. "I had a few players who were not able to play because they didn’t have their six practices in. That hurt us a little. So, I anticipate better success when they’re with us."
   Play will begin in earnest Friday when South travels to Spotswood. They will be at Sayreville next Tuesday, and East Brunswick comes to visit on Thursday. Ducko was expecting a very good game against Sayreville, last year’s White Division champs. The rivalry between the Vikings and the Bombers goes back several years, when both competed in the White.
   When it comes to their new division, the Vikings have the toughest game first. East Brunswick will again be the team to beat in the Red. But Ducko thinks some of the other top teams in the division are vulnerable this fall.
   "We don’t want to lose to Piscataway or to Old Bridge this year," the coach said. "We know that the East Brunswick games will be tough, and obviously we want to do our best against them. But we’re going after Piscataway and Old Bridge."
   Just taking one game against each of those schools could put South on the plus side in the division, and make qualifying for the state tournament a little easier than is was in 2000.
   Participation in travel team programs, summer camps and a 7-vs.-7 league at Rutgers University had the majority of the Vikings in better shape at the start of this pre-season than in previous years.
   "It still wasn’t good enough," Ducko said. "But we had a really good pre-season. The girls worked themselves hard, and showed a lot of dedication. So, they’ll be in shape. They’ll be ready for Friday."
   THROW-INS: The turnout for the Viking girls program was a little disappointing this fall. As of press time, Ducko didn’t think there would be enough freshmen to field a 9th-grade team. That decision will be made after school has been in session for a few days, and the coaches have had a chance for a final recruitment push.