By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer
It’s not often when an underclassman gets to be a team captain. But in two sports?
That’s the case of Kristen Kolibas, one of the captains of Brick Memorial’s girls’ soccer team that won the Group IV state championship last fall, who is now co-captain of the school’s new lacrosse team, which started its season Monday at Toms River South.
"There’s only one senior on the team," said Kolibas, who shares her captain’s role with an even younger player and a soccer teammate from last fall — sophomore Heather Nathanson.
A number of soccer players are in the new lacrosse program. Brick Township also started a team this spring and has played three matches thus far, still looking for its first victory. It lost its first-ever game to St. Rose, 20-0, and then matches against Toms River South, 11-3, and Howell, 10-4.
In the TRS game, Kelly Bilotta notched a pair of goals, including the first in the program’s history, while Whitney Meyer scored the other tally. Against Howell, Meyer recorded a hat trick, with Jean Marie Tighe notching the fourth Brick goal.
"In a lot of ways it’s similar to soccer," said Kolibas of her reason for playing lacrosse. "It’s something to keep me in shape."
She is also playing club soccer for Match Fit’s Under-17 team this spring. That team travels on weekends to tournaments, some out of state.
"It’s similar to soccer because of the running, and looking for the opening mark and seeing the field," said Kolibas.
"I heard it was coming to school and it’s something new, something I could try to do," said Nathanson. "It’s very team-oriented — a lot of passing, looking for open teammates — and the positions are sort of similar."
Just like on the soccer team, Kolibas is playing as a midfielder and Nathanson has played primarily as a defender. They both started playing lacrosse a year ago when the school competed on a junior varsity club level. They said they feel their good conditioning will help them against more established opponents.
"The defense is pretty solid but we’ve been working on the attack and basic skills," said coach Megan Barlow.
She also has been concerned with the goalie position where a freshman, Jen Kocher, who also played as a goalie in the school’s soccer program, has guarded the net for most of the preseason, when injuries and a departure eliminated any upperclassmen from playing that spot.
Junior Michelle Gorecki at the point, junior Jessica Soto at third home attack and sophomore Allison Geran at attack wing have earned Barlow’s praises.
"I know everyone is working hard and we’re really conditioned," said Nathanson, referring to the workout regimen instituted by assistant coach Mark Truhan. "I guess the midfield area is pretty good and the defense works hard. I’ve wanted to be out here doing this since the beginning of the year."
Both co-captains said they’ve received questions from curious classmates and friends about the team.
"A lot of the guys in our school came to our soccer games and supported us and they’ll be here for lacrosse, but they’re wondering why they don’t have a team."
Give it time.