Eagles to face No. 1
St. John Vianney
this afternoon
By Warren Rappleyea
Staff Writer
After opening the season in an unaccustomed manner with two losses, the Middletown High School South girls soccer team won twice before losing a tough, 2-1 decision to Wall.
Last season the Eagles won the Shore Conference’s Class A North division and went on to take the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Central Jersey Group III title, but only three starters, midfielders Tanya DiDonna and Jamie Gray, along with sophomore Kerry McLaughlin (all sophomores), are back.
"Our team didn’t play that well in the first couple of games, but they’ve improved a lot since then," Coach Kris Haar said. "Now they’re moving the ball better with good, accurate passes, and our defense has stepped up as well."
Haar noted that DiDonna and McLaughlin have excelled defensively, while Gray has jumped into the offense with three goals and two assists.
Middletown South had some trouble scoring in its first few games, but Haar opted to move junior goalie Jenna Anderson, the fastest runner on the team, to the front line.
In three games as a forward, Anderson has two goals and an assist, but more importantly, opposing teams have been forced to mark her. This, in turn, has helped freshman Brianne Moran, who has four goals and two assists.
"Jenna creates problems for other teams because she is so quick," Haar said. "Even though our opponents have tried to cover her, Jenna’s made her presence known."
By moving Anderson, Haar decided to go with freshman Kristen Kelleher in the net. Kelleher has been steady and she’s been helped by some solid play by senior midfielders Sarah Cortese and Alex Vernoia, and fullbacks Rachel DiMaggio, a senior, and Christie Tintel, a junior.
Other members of the team include seniors Jen Alworth, a goalie, and Lauren Heidt, a forward; junior midfielder Jeannie Cataldo; sophomore midfielder/fullbacks Sarah Baratta and Kerry Haley; and freshmen Allison Grand, a midfielder/forward, and Courtney Kumm, a midfielder/fullback.
"The key for us is to hold on to the ball and keep moving the ball through the middle quickly when we have the chance," the coach said. "If we can control the ball, we should control the game."
Middletown South was scheduled to visit Manalapan on Monday in the first of three games this week. This afternoon St. John Vianney comes town, and on Friday the Eagles will play host to rival Middletown North.
Facing St. John Vianney will provide the Eagles with a good measuring stick in terms of where they stand against the Shore’s top-ranked team. The Lancers entered this week at 6-0, but were scheduled to face No. 3 Red Bank Catholic on Monday. The Lancers have been virtually unbeatable thus far, picking up where they left off last year when they won the Parochial state title.
Vianney has been so dominant that the squad has four shutouts already in only six games, and appears to be running away with the Class B North division.
As for the Eagles, they find themselves in the hunt for the A North title, chasing down an impressive Manalapan squad off to a fast 5-0 start. The No. 4-ranked Braves have been very impressive thus far, as have No. 10 Freehold Township (4-1-1) and Howell (3-3).
But with games remaining against each of those teams, the Eagles could play their way back into contention for another A North title and get themselves on a roll for the state playoffs, where anything can happen.
The Eagles are young but hungry, and Haar has shown the ability to lead a talented team to the top in recent years. Don’t count the Eagles out just yet.