The Old Bridge U13 Flames captured first place in the Premier division of the Brick Memorial Day Tournament. The Flames battled all weekend, and played hard every minute of every game. The final was a hard fought 3-2 win over the Delran Dynamo. To get to the finals the Flames beat Ironbound, 4-1, Staten Island United, 4-0, and The Den of Lions, 4-2. This was truly a championship that the whole team contributed to. The Flames are Mike Utset, Joe Reyes, Alex Terwilliger, Steven Zafrani, Chris Wishart, Jimmy Meindl, Mario Rangel, Mike Monahan, David Fitzgerald, David Milewski, Mohamed Hussein, C.J. Tavernise, Steve Morris, Nick Pascale, Nick Martins and Ryan McCartney. The Flames have also captured first place in MOSA National 1 with one game to play. Their record is 7-0-2 with 34 goals for to 12 goals against. The team is coached by Billy Tavernise, Steve Morris and Jim Meindl.
The U8 Old Bridge Thunder girls soccer team’s record stands at 5-1-3 after two weeks of intense competition. After losing their first game ever as a team against the Freehold Wildcats 1-4, the Thunder girls came back strong defeating Marlboro United Blue 2-1, tying the first-place team Jackson Cheetahs 1-1 and outplaying Manalapan Rising Stars 3-0. Against Marlboro United Blue, the Thunder girls started off strong with a quick goal in the first half by Kristina Hourican assisted by Alexis Suarez, and in the second half Venessa Mantione kicked in the final goal with an assist by Kerri Caruso.
Goalies Gina Colamonico and Vanessa Mantione had several impressive saves to hold Marlboro to just one goal. The Jackson Cheetahs game was a fierce battle featuring the top two teams in the league. The Thunder girls scored late in the first half with a spectacular kick by Nicole Velez to put Old Bridge in the lead. Although Gina and defenders Nicole Velez, Angelique Giglio, Vanessa Mantione and Kerri Caruso were playing outstanding defense, the Jackson Cheetahs answered back with less than two minutes to play to tie the game 1-1.
The win against Manalapan was most impressive due to outstanding teamwork. Again, goalie Gina Colamonico was brilliant in the net, and Nicole Velez, Kristina Hourican, Alyssa Kramer and Meaghan Kenny played stellar defense preserving the shutout. Kerri Caruso scored twice in the first half on beautiful assists by Alyssa Somohano and Gianna Taranto. Great ball movement by Tanvi Lodhia, Taylor Carroll and the rest of the offensive line allowed Old Bridge to control the game, and in the second half, Gianna blasted in the final goal.
The Old Bridge girls U10 travel soccer team, the Blast, had a spectacular finish to its season on Sunday against Point Pleasant, winning 8-2 in the torrid 90-degree heat. This win puts them at 6-1-3 for the season, finishing in second place, and only one point out of first place. Their synergy as a team combined with excellent goalkeeping has earned them the promotion up a flight next season to National 1. Thank you to coaches Paul Mazur and Ron Spehalski, and to trainer Bill Carl. Congratulations to the following team members: Kelsiann Acer, Kelly Cameron, Kimberly D’Ermilio, Kelsey Dunnigan, Emily Ann Garcia, Dale Gaughan, Marissa Ilaria, Alexandra LaFata, Jessica Mazur, Kelsey McCartney, Natalie Principato, Kaitlyn Safchinsky, Karen Spehalski and Tonilynn Taranto.
The Old Bridge Blue Thunder U9 girls travel soccer team concluded their regular season with a 2-1 victory over the previously unbeaten Toms River United girls on Sunday, June 5. The win culminated an impressive 5-0-1 run that left the Blue Thunder in second place with a 6-2-2 record after a 1-2-1 start.
The first half was scoreless as the Blue Thunder and United girls battled each other to a draw. The Blue Thunder defense was impressive with fullback Elizabeth Thoresen, midfielders Kelly Kracsun, Cassidy Flynn-Rozanski and Victoria Beake, and goalkeeper Morgan Montgomery shutting out the high-powered Toms River attack. Erin Honan and Alexandria Grillo spearheaded an attack that threatened repeatedly, but was turned away by an excellent United defense.
The second half saw Hannah Hallos score two early goals for the Blue Thunder, one on an assist from Kelsey McDonough, and the other on an assist from Elizabeth Thoresen. Christina Diakos made a great pass to Hannah Hallos that almost resulted in another goal, but the shot was barely wide of the net. The Old Bridge defense led by Courtney Durstewitz, Jessica Betines and Victoria Beake cleared the repeated United attacks and held the flight’s best offense to just one goal. Goalkeeper Alexandra Maurer made several key saves including one from point blank range to preserve the victory.
The Sayreville Wildcats girls U9 traveling soccer team recently compiled a perfect 10-0 season. The Wildcats were one of 10 teams playing in the division. The girls also won several tournament games throughout the season. The team members include Shannon Carr, Mairead Forrest, Lauren O’Dwyer, Keri Pentek, Alexa Povelaitis, Kelly Raub, Nicole Raub, Heather Sootkoos and Kimberly Stratton.
The head coach is Jeremy Stratton, and the assistant head coach is Jerry Forrest.
The Old Bridge U13 Flames captured first place in the Premier division of the Brick Memorial Day Tournament. The Flames battled all weekend. They played hard every minute of every game. The final was a hard-fought 3-2 win over the Delran Dynamo. To get to the finals, the Flames beat Ironbound, 4-1, Staten Island United, 4-0, and The Den of Lions, 4-2. This was truly a championship that the whole team contributed to. The Flames are Mike Utset, Joe Reyes, Alex Terwilliger, Steven Zafrani, Chris Wishart, Jimmy Meindl, Mario Rangel, Mike Monahan, David Fitzgerald, David Milewski, Mohamed Hussein, C.J. Tavernise, Steve Morris, Nick Pascale, Nick Martins and Ryan McCartney. The Flames have also captured first place in MOSA National 1 with one game to play. Their record is 7-0-2 with 34 goals-for to 12 goals-against. The team is coached by Billy Tavernise, Steve Morris and Jim Meindl.
The Old Bridge Lacrosse Association is proud to sponsor the Fifth Annual Alumni Game. The game will be played on the Geick Park field, on Saturday, June 18, beginning at 8 p.m. The Alumni team will consist of past Old Bridge players who now play in college or club lacrosse programs. The opposing team will be current players from the Old Bridge Lacrosse Association program. The game is played to promote lacrosse in Old Bridge and to benefit the Youth Lacrosse program. The Youth Lacrosse program consists of players from fourth through eighth grade. Alumni of the Old Bridge Lacrosse program who wish to play in the game contact Bob Ritz at (732) 238-8668. Old Bridge Lacrosse Association will be selling Alumni Game T-shirts to help raise money for the Youth Lacrosse Program. To request information concerning the Alumni Game or the Old Bridge Lacrosse Association, call Bob Ritz at (732) 238-8668 and leave a message.