BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA
Staff Writer
The Sayreville War Memorial High School field hockey team heads into the second half of the season looking to duplicate the 7-1-1 mark it has posted thus far.
Coach Lynn Taylor’s team has parlayed a stingy defense, led by goalie Jenny Savarese, who has five shutouts, into several one-goal victories thanks to some timely goal scoring.
“Our defense has been our strength and the key to our success,” Taylor said. “Our backs have done a great job, but the whole team takes pride in not allowing goals.”
Savarese, in her first varsity campaign, has received solid support from a backline that includes Kristen Haven, Kerry Ronan, Alison Wilhelm and sophomores Erica Latz and Kristy Langella.
The Bombers’ midfielders have also been diligent in helping the defense. Amy Bodak, Megan Mazur, Jen Latz, junior Lorianne Miklaszewski and versatile sophomore Krystalyn Christensen have been superb, Taylor noted. In addition, Jen Latz has scored six goals.
Portia Marshall also has six goals, tops among the Bombers forwards. Brittany Dusko, Tina Kelly, and juniors Christine Beckhusen and Simone Saxon are the other forwards.
“All of our games have been close and we’ve had our share of 1-0 games,” Taylor said. “But the girls have been finding a way to win. They’re very resilient and disciplined. They can hold their own with any team.”
Sayreville got is seventh win on Tuesday when it knocked off Piscataway, 3-0. Latz notched a pair of goals, while Marshall contributed the other.
Sayreville was back in action yesterday, when the Bombers hosted an Old Bridge team coming off a 2-0 win over South Brunswick. The Knights got a pair of goals from Joanna Klein and five saves from goalie Katie Schiffer in the South Brunswick game, as they improved to 5-3 on the year.
On Friday, Sayreville will take on a Monroe team trying to notch its first win of the season. Monroe is 0-4-2 thus far.
The other local, East Brunswick, is 5-2 thus far, and will take on the conference’s best team, South Plainfield (5-0-1), today. The Bears knocked off Metuchen on Monday for their fifth win of the year, as Ali Luppinacci scored the game’s only goal nine minutes into the second half, her fourth of the season. Andrea Blanar had four saves for East Brunswick.