By: Carolyn M. Hartko
While the 2005 varsity girls’ soccer team at Monroe High School may not quite have replicated the glory days of a few years ago, the Lady Falcons are now definitely headed in the right direction.
Monroe posted an overall record of 11-6-1, an improvement from last year’s 8-9-1. It was 8-4-1 in the Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division. The Falcons also improved their goal differential, outscoring foes 41-18, which is up from 37-29 last year.
In addition, Monroe reached the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III tournament. Although they lost 1-0 to Ocean in that game, the Falcons turned in a surprisingly strong performance. On the way to the semis, Monroe beat another Shore Conference team, Red Bank, 3-0, the program’s first state win since the school moved up to Group III.
"We actually played a phenomenal game against Ocean," Falcon head coach Kathy Dillon said. "I’ll take a loss like that any day, because we looked really good out there. The important thing is, we didn’t put our heads down, and just collapse under the pressure. I think we stepped up to the challenge."
The turning point for the Falcons came during the regular season when they scored two 1-0 victories in two days against the top teams in the White, Woodbridge and Colonia. Monroe also posted wins over Red Division teams like Piscataway and South Brunswick.
The Falcons are only losing six seniors in June, but all six were starters. Defensive midfielder Angela Montanile led the team in assists with four, and she scored two goals. Allison Gran was an outside back, and Sasha Potter, an all-state pick, switched between midfield and defense. Three-year starting keeper Megan Boyce will be hard to replace. She started every game this year, presiding over 10 shutouts, with a goals allowed average of 1.0.
Center midfielder Raven Chiara, a four-year letter winner, led the team in scoring with 13 goals and six assists. She has been named to the All-White Division team, All-GMC, and All-State. Chiara is planning on playing soccer next year at either Kutztown (Pa.) University or Stockton, and she’s looking into graphic design as a major. Since soccer has been her passion and only sport for years, Chiara’s memories are tied up with the people she’s met along the way.
"I’ll always remember the seniors that I’m with right now, and how we’ve all been together since we were five," the Falcon co-captain said. "We’ve been playing travel soccer together since we were eight on the Shooting Stars. And we still, when we were seniors, all loved each other and had a great time. I’ll never forget all the funny, hilarious times I’ve had with them. They’re a great group."
Ashley Armstrong, the team’s other co-captain, played mostly defense, but she contributed two goals and three assists this fall. Armstrong is looking at local schools for next year, like Ramapo, Rowan and The College of New Jersey. She hopes to play soccer wherever she ends up, and is still deciding between pre-law and psychology for a major.
Armstrong was part of the Falcon program when they won back-to-back division championships her freshman and sophomore year. She hopes the underclassmen will take inspiration from those banners in the gym, and look to the future. But the best part of being on a team was learning how to lean on each other’s strengths.
"I think the turning point for our team was when we put Sasha on defense," Armstrong said. "It made our defense more cooperative, so our defense was more successful. And when she was back there, it helped my game. So, it helped the whole team."
According to Dillon, the 2005 Falcons had a great chemistry, on and off the field, and that was due in large part to the Class of 2006.
"They’re going to be greatly missed, not just for their abilities as players, but they’re just tremendous people," the coach said. "You don’t get a better person than Sasha Potter or Ashley Armstrong. Those kids are just good kids. There are big shoes to fill, and I’m hoping that some of the juniors step up for leadership roles next year."
With Chiara leaving, the team will be looking for several girls to increase their efforts on offense as well. The team’s second highest scorer this fall was sophomore midfielder Alana Carr (10 goals, one assist). Freshman forward Sarah Gibbons contributed four goals and two assists. Two other with a nose for the net were junior forward Alyssa Gioino (three, two) and sophomore midfielder Allison Arnold (three, one)
The Falcons are also going to be hit hard on defense, where the only returning player will be sophomore sweeper Nicole Ragucci. Junior Sarah Payne and sophomore Monica Polick saw some time in the back.
Three juniors who helped out in the midfield were Katie Mazzio, Leah Scarpetti and Diana Stelmaszczyk. Rounding out this year’s roster were sophomores Stephanie Salvador (midfield/back-up keeper), midfielder Alyssa Theinert and forward Elysse Micciulla, and freshman forward Danielle Rotundo.
"I think that we did a great job this year," Dillon said.
