By: Stacey Gorski
The first week of May has arrived, and the South Brunswick girls’ lacrosse team has already equaled its record from last season.
"We were 4-5 when the season ended last year," said head coach Gail DeMarco. "We’re only half way this season, so that’s pretty good."
After two days of rain canceled games against Bernards and Old Bridge, the girls finally saw some action against Hunterdon Central last Wednesday and dropped a 13-6 decision.
"It wasn’t bad," DeMarco said. "We were down 4-3 at the half which was great for our girls. They are working really hard on defense."
Though the second half did not go as well as the first, South Brunswick competed well against Hunterdon Central.
"It was actually a close game until the last couple of minutes," DeMarco said. "Before the game their coach was telling me how this would be a tough one for my girls, but we gave them all they could handle."
After another fairly lengthy layoff, the girls’ next game was not until Tuesday when they squared off against Hillsborough.
"We lost to them twice last year, but when we scrimmaged them this preseason we knew we could have a favorable result," DeMarco said.
The results were favorable indeed as South Brunswick won the match-up 13-5.
Since the season began, the defense has been the center DeMarco’s concerns as the coaching staff has made adjustments and players have gotten situated in new positions.
"The combination of a new strategy and more confidence, probably, along with a new focus have made the difference on defense," DeMarco said.
DeMarco credits the individual play of senior Goretti Layco at the point position, along with juniors Nicole Briley and Annette Vasquez, as the cornerstones of the defense’s new-found confidence and success.
"I think they have a sense of accomplishment and they realize what they thought was unrealistic is actually an achievable style of play," DeMarco said. "Instead of chasing people all around the field, they just pick up their marks between the 8 and the 12 (yard lines)."
Besides the field defense, the most pleasant surprise of the season has been the rise of sophomore goalkeeper Chrissy Tupe, who averages 15 saves a game. She came up with 19 against Hunterdon Central and 24 against Hillsborough.
"At the beginning of the season we weren’t sure how it would go, and we were playing each goalkeeper for half a game," DeMarco said.
However, Tupe’s skills and performance increased tremendously, particularly once her swim season came to an end. She missed 10 days to compete in swimming nationals.
"She is a good athlete and an intense person. She has the goalie mentalityshe will throw herself in front of anything," DeMarco said. "She is very smart in playing the angles."
Fortunately for DeMarco, while the defense has been playing the right angles and distances, the attack has been equally effective.
"They really have clicked," DeMarco said.
The team’s leading scorers have been senior Lisa DiTuro, who averages 1.88 goals per game, juniors Tanya Earl (2.38 gpg) and Sarah McCall (1.75 gpg) and sophomore Kate Marowitz (2.25 gpg). The four players are usually good for at least six goals a game.
"But they really couldn’t do it without Tess Barton. She gives them great feeds," DeMarco said.
The girls will continue their season in three home match-ups against New Providence, Hopewell Valley and Bernards.
"We have to be at .500 on the 15th (to make the state tournament)," DeMarco said. "If we stay focused, that could be a goal."
