By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer
Still smarting from a 1-0 upset to Lacey in the quarterfinals of the Shore Conference Tournament, perennial power Brick Memorial is ready to move ahead in its drive for a fourth straight trip to the NJSIAA South section championship game.
"Definitely," said coach Bill Caruso, whose 14-4-1 girls’ soccer team beat Vineland, 4-0, last Wednesday in the South quarterfinals to advance to this week’s game against Shawnee, a surprisingly easy 6-0 victor over Absegami.
"Winning the Shore Conference [Tournament] is nice, but the entire season is based on the state tournament. You can have 15-1 teams lose in the first round and .500 teams win the section. We preach that from winter through summer," Caruso said.
With a glittering nameplate of accomplishments for the seniors, led by fourth-year starter Tierney Brady at center midfield, Brick Memorial is poised to bid for another state title, like when Brady and her fellow seniors were freshmen and posted a 2-0 victory over Wayne Valley. Brady, a New Jersey Coaches all-state selection as well as an all-Shore and all-Ocean selection last year, assisted the first goal that memorable day.
She also played one of her best games of the season against Vineland.
Caruso feels the area that has most improved, and that is essential to any postseason drive, is the defense.
"It hurts to give up a cheap goal. That sends you home," said Caruso. "You can’t correct it afterward for the next game. It’s all about moving on."
For the team’s six seniors, they want to play to the last day. They have won the Shore Conference regular-season championship every year (including a co-championship with eventual SCT champion Toms River South for the second straight year), and have been in the sectional final the past three years.
Last year’s memorable season came to a crashing halt in the state semifinals, courtesy of U.S. national team player Heather O’Reilly and East Brunswick, 3-0. O’Reilly had two goals and assisted the other.
Hunterdon Central High School denied Brick Memorial a state championship game berth in 2000 after the Mustangs beat Eastern in the section finals. Brick Memorial avenged a penalty kick loss to Lenape in the section finals two years ago with a victory in last year’s championship game.
All hopes for a long season for Brick Memorial, which slipped out of the state rankings last week after being ranked No. 7 two weeks ago, go through Brady, who has five goals and 14 assists going into the state tournament.
"She has the quickest feet of anyone who has played for me," said Caruso. "And she has incredible vision. Some high school kids don’t see down the field but she does."
The key complement is goalie Lauren Acosta, a senior with nine shutouts who was not expected to play much this season after tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in a club team game Memorial Day weekend. She was back by the fifth game and rounded into shape very quickly.
"She was not expected back for three or four months but her work ethic is unbelievable," said Caruso. "She still hurts after games but she’s out there playing."
Caruso said Acosta’s ability to second-guess attackers is her greatest suit.
"It’s her anticipation. She’s probably the best athlete in the school and she makes great decisions coming out and shutting down defenders one-on-one," said Caruso.
Before Acosta’s hasty return, junior Jamie Kaiser filled in creditably with only a loss to Toms River South. Kaiser, a career midfielder, moved to the goalie position a year ago.
The bulwark of the back line in the 4-4-2 configuration is junior Kristen Kolibas, with senior Jen Schweizer providing yeoman support as a defensive midfielder. Aiding them are juniors Jenn Olszewski in the middle defensive line, and Tara Raftery and Nicole Tatulli on the outside, part of a corps that Caruso calls his "blue collar backs."
What the team may sacrifice in speed they gain in savvy. They’ve had to learn a new system, introduced a year ago, of zone defense rather than the conventional style of relying on a sweeper and a stopper.
"Our backs are learning it. It’s a process but we’re getting there," said Caruso. "We play with a sweeper when our opponent is incredibly fast.
"We like to play an indirect style and then go forward quickly," said Caruso, who gets many opportunities off well-executed counterattacks. "I like the way we knock the ball around. We play a possession game. We’re not incredibly fast."
As a result, the Mustangs are locked in many low-scoring victories where a tactical mistake can be costly. But with a lineup laden with experience, mistakes fortunately have been few.
Freshman Jess Fuccello had 14 goals and senior Becky Burt scored her 11th goal of the season just 2:30 into the Vineland game. If there is a need for speed, junior Maggie Chessler provides it as a backup forward. If the tempo needs to be slowed, sophomore reserve forward Ally Geran can provide a deliberate approach.
Senior Tara Marrone and sophomore Shana Brady (Tierney’s sister) are outside midfielders. Shana gave Brick Memorial a 2-0 lead against Vineland off a pass from her sister at the 34th minute. Freshmen Caitlin Toomey, who pushed the lead to 3-0, and Sarah Conway also are valuable reserve fullbacks who can keep the future bright.