Leach, Bradley star in shutout
By: John Beisser
The Manville High girls’ soccer team registered a 1-0 victory over North Plainfield last week in a makeup of a Sept. 30 rainout. It was the team’s first shutout victory since a 7-0 rout of Hillside back in the very first game of the season.
Senior goalie Melody Leach had a fine game in goal, recording 16 saves to post her first career shutout. Christine Bradley scored the lone goal of the game for the Lady Mustangs.
"That victory was a boost, no question about it," second-year head coach Corrine Mastrapasqua said. "Melody continues to do a nice job in goal for us. She is a newcomer to soccer but she is such a natural athlete. She is flexible and such a well-rounded athlete that she has been able to fit right in and do a great job for us."
Manville also absorbed a pair of defeats last week, dropping contests to New Providence and Mount St. Mary’s by the scores of 4-0 and 5-0, respectively. In both matches, Manville faced a far more mature and experienced team. New Providence is a team Manville knows well, having lost to the Pioneers in the Central Jersey Group 1 championship game a year ago.
"Those were two tough teams, no question about it, but the girls were in there fighting all the way," Mastrapasqua said. "In the New Providence game, it was 0-0 at halftime and we were hanging really tough before they converted on some opportunities in the second half."
Manville continues to receive outstanding leadership from senior co-captains Dana Delesky and Sarah Ortman and the young, injury-laden Lady Mustangs continue to display a fine attitude and spirit, even in defeat.
Mastrapasqua is particularly pleased with the development of several underclassmen who figure to be linchpins of next year’s team. Sophomore Kim Lizano is one player who is maturing into a fine defender from her left defense position.
"Kim is a very strong player considering she is just a 10th grader," Mastrapasqua said. "She clears the ball well and is good enough of an athlete that she can often out-run her opponent to clear the ball. Kim is doing a nice job for us."
Another player who was singled out for praise by Mastrapasqua is junior Katrina DeSantis, who plays opposite Lizana at right defense.
"Katrina played second string defense last year," the coach said. "She is a very hard worker, is aggressive and digs the ball out very well along our defensive line."
Manville has interesting week ahead. Following Monday’s matchup with David Brearley, the Lady Mustangs were slated to play and extremely formidable foe in Governor Livington of Berkeley Heights on Tuesday.
"This will be on the best teams we face all year," Mastrapasqua said. "They are good at every position and have won a number of games by one-sided margins. But on any given day, you never know. We’ll go in there with a good attitude and will try our best. Our girls are learning and getting better and that’s all you can ask."
The Manville girls will host Wardlaw-Hartridge on Friday before ending the season with a home match vs. Arthur L. Johnson Regional of Clark next Tuesday.