Old Bridge girls team is eyeing the .500 plateau
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer
With a large group of key veterans returning to the fold, the outlook is bright for the Old Bridge High School girls lacrosse team as it seeks to break the .500 mark for the first time.
The Lady Knights are coming off of a 7-8 campaign; the best in team history, but second-year coach Steve Gajewski believes his squad can do much better than .500.
"We have a very balanced attack and lots of depth, there are 17 players and I’m going to use them all," he said. "The girls also put in a lot of time in the off-season, going to camps and playing in leagues to improve their skills. As a result, they have more confidence in their abilities."
Scoring should not be a problem with senior co-captains Tara Nardella and Amanda Hobson in the fold. Nardella scored 24 goals and added 14 assists a year ago, while Hobson, a midfielder, had eight goals and three assists.
In addition, junior forwards Danielle Fitzpatrick (11 goals), Danielle Abrams (nine goals) and Christine DeRosa (three goals) provide more punch. Gajewski also noted that junior Amanda Perodeau and promising sophomore Ashley Reynolds can put the ball in the net as well.
Joining Hobson in the middle are juniors Lauren Chin and Martyna Skowron, and sophomore Brittany Durgin. Senior Alex Petrocova leads the defense from her point post, and is flanked by juniors Jen Kelleher and Kelly Duesterdick.
Senior Irina Razvadovsky, junior Lara Rubenstein and sophomore Megan Lancelot will also see time on the backline.
"Defense is an area where I think we’ll show significant improvement," Gajewski noted. "Speed is a key and we have plenty of that, plus experience."
The Lady Knights also have experience in goal with junior Sam May, who split time between the pipes last spring. Sophomore Katie Schiffer is in reserve.
"I’ve really been impressed with what I’ve seen so far," said Gajewski, who is assisted by Anthony Lanzafama who played football and lacrosse for Old Bridge.
"They’re better at playing their positions, and they catch and throw so much better. That will help us maintain possession, which is so important in lacrosse."
Old Bridge opens the season April 1 at North Hunterdon.