Bombers look forward to upcoming playoff games
Sayreville girls should
be a dangerous
postseason team
The Sayreville War Memorial High School girls soccer team is 8-2-2 and holding down second place in the Greater Middlesex Conference White Division heading into the GMC and New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association Central Jersey Group III tournaments.
The Bombers had two regular season games remaining — yesterday against Old Bridge and this afternoon at Bishop Ahr in Edison, before the first round of the GMC begins on Tuesday. The state tourney is set to start Oct. 30.
Sayreville will finish the regular season in second place in the GMC’s competitive White Division, behind only North Brunswick, who happens to be the only undefeated team in the GMC. But should the two meet up in the GMC tournament, the Bombers will be a confident bunch.
According to head coach Steve Fischer, this year’s success is the result of solid, overall team play.
"No one has really stood out for us; it’s been a total team effort," Fischer said. "It’s always nice when you’re winning."
Sayreville has been winning, but one difference from a year ago is the Bombers’ record in one-goal games. Last fall, Fischer’s team went 8-1 in one-goal encounters; this year the team is 2-3, counting the ties.
"Winning the one-goal games was the key for us last year," Fischer said. "That’s something we haven’t done this year. If we had, we’d have a couple of more wins. Those games are also important at tournament time, when the games are generally much closer."
The Bombers have done well offensively. Sophomore Kim Griffith leads the team in scoring with nine goals and five assists, followed by Nicole Gandero with six goals and three assists.
Jessica Roy, who rounds out the front line, has five goals and a pair of assists, and midfielder Kristin Hubela, one of the co-captains, has four goals and seven assists.
Fischer noted that Laura Haney, the other co-captain, has played well in the middle, along with Meredith Phair and Rose Camuto.
Sweeper Natalie Wika and fullback Nicole Gallagher lead the defense in front of goalie Melissa Braun, who has permitted just 11 goals against.
Fischer thinks his team is ready to make a serious postseason run and is confident that they will play well against many of the better teams in the GMC.
"This is the time of year we all look forward to," Fischer said. "And the girls are ready."