BCC peaking for Region XIX Tournament

Blues have clinched women’s soccer GSAC title

BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer

Frank Lawrence knows the difficulty teams have playing his Brookdale Community College women’s soccer team. He’s been on the other side.

Now it’s his turn to go to a deep bench for help and wear an opponent out over 90 minutes of play. Lawrence has the program right where he wants it, on par with the best in the country.

In addition to an outstanding starting lineup, Lawrence has crafted a very talented bench to support them that has played a big role in Brookdale’s 12-1-1 start that has the Jersey Blues ranked No. 2 in the country and already assured them of no worse than a tie for the Garden State Athletic Conference championship.

Lawrence pointed out that at this time of the season he usually has a set substitution pattern. This fall he has so much talent on the sideline that he has been going by feel and what he needs at a particular time.

“I have so many good players,” he pointed out. “If I need offense, someone on defense or a midfielder needs a rest, I can go to someone who can fill the need.”

Brookdale, last year’s national runner up, will begin play in the Region XIX Tournament in Lincroft on Tuesday (2 p.m.) in a semifinal round. The title game will be Oct. 27 at Mercer County College.

The Region championship is the first step toward the National Tournament in Herkimer, N.Y., (Nov. 10-11). The Region champion will host the Northeast District title game (TBA) with the winner advancing to Herkimer.

Having recently beaten nationally ranked Ocean, 3-0, the Blues head into the postseason with confidence.

“I’m feeling pretty good about the tournament,” said Lawrence. “We still have to win it on the field.”

It has been a remarkable year in many ways for Brookdale. The Jersey Blues have been absolutely dominant. They’ve register 10 shutouts in their 13 matches and are averaging between 25 and 30 shots a game while surrendering just two to three. The Blues are averaging a 10-1 advantage in corner kicks per game. They’ve made it look easy.

That is until a 2-0 loss to Camden last month. The Blues were the dominant team but failed to capitalize on their opportunities, while Camden did. More than anything else, the loss shook Brookdale out of any complacency that had been developing.

“The one loss benefited us,” said Lawrence. “It was a wake-up call for everyone.

“We had been so dominant,” he added. “We fell into the trap of thinking we just had to show up. What I’ve been happy about is that since the loss, they refocused and have been playing better.”

BCC took on No. 6-ranked Ocean shortly after that loss and re-established its dominance with a 3-0 win in Toms River. The win clinched no worse than a share of the GSAC title (a Brookdale win yesterday at home against Bergen would give BCC the title outright).

It was one of Brookdale’s many valuable subs who scored the all-important second goal against Ocean, Courtney Rosado (Long Branch). Her goal forced Ocean out of its defensive shell, leading to a third goal for the visitors.

Liz Grimaldi (Rumson-Fair Haven) and Jenna Lippi (Middletown North) were the other goal scorers for BCC.

Brookdale’s success begins in the middle with its five midfielders.

“What has made us so dominant are our midfielders,” said Lawrence. “People have a tough time getting through the midfield. We’ve controlled play.”

Center midfielders Jill Muhlenbruck (Point Pleasant Boro), Liz Walling (Manasquan) and Annie Willman (Monmouth Regional) are versatile players who can play both defense and offense. Of this group, Muhlenbruck is the defensive anchor. Walling is very athletic and has a way of getting to the ball, while Willman is a playmaker. Their play has opened space for outside midfielders Kelly Ackerman (Freehold Borough) and Lippi, and they have taken full advantage – they are second and third in the country in assists. Ackerman is No. 2 with 14 helpers and Lippi has 12.

Forwards Grimaldi and Johanna Lovallo (Old Bridge) have been very good at finishing off their scoring chances. Grimaldi has 13 goals and four assists, and Lovallo has 12 goals and nine assists. Lovallo’s 33 points leads the squad.

An example of the wealth of talent on the BCC team is Kim Mairs (Matawan). The sub had a three-goal hat trick in a recent match with Delaware Tech.

For all of BCC’s fireworks, it takes defense to win, and the club has been playing terrific defense, according to its coach.

Goalie Melissa Scaduto (Freehold Township) adds to her school record with each shutout. The 10 she has this year matches the single-season Brookdale mark, and the 20 she has for her career is the school record. Her goals-against average of 0.77 is second best in the country.

“Melissa communicates well out there and she enjoys working with our defenders,” noted Lawrence. “It’s not easy when you can go 15 or 20 minutes without making a play. She does a good job staying focused.

Three outstanding players in front of her have made it easier for Scaduto. They are sweeper Annie Peraggine (Manalapan) and marking backs Erin McDonald (Red Bank Regional) and Katie James (Howell). Against Ocean, McDonald held the team’s big scorer, Dani Pagana, in check.