BY: Sean Moylan Sports Writer
2008 was set up to be a special year for the Bordentown Regional High girls’ varsity soccer team the moment Scotties’ head coach Dominick Castaldo decided to keep a large group of sophomores on his varsity roster two years ago.
This season Bordentown has a dozen seniors on its roster with varsity experience. And several of those girls are already star players. But as it turned out, the Scotties are extra fortunate to have such a large group of veterans because this year Bordentown, a very small Group II school, has been put in the new Liberty Division with much bigger schools like Rancocas Valley, Delran, Northern Burlington, Cinnaminson, Burlington Township and Moorestown.
“I think we are going to do very well even though our schedule has gotten more difficult,” said Castaldo, who is entering his 26th season as the Scotties head coach. “Our goal is to make the state tournament and go further than we did last year. We need to win every game we are suppose to win and to keep every game close.”
Brittany Bakeman and Kiley Dougherty are returning senior captains. Bakeman, who is blessed with uncanny speed and terrific ball-handling skills, is already one of the league’s premier defenders and Dougherty is a very good midfielder.
Castaldo is also expecting a breakout year from halfback Leah Shaw, who suffered through some injuries which slowed her down last season. And senior forwards Sheila Frank and Jessica Villalba have always been special soccer players. Senior goalies Nicole Walls and Vicky Villalba will share the duties in the net. Bordentown’s other seniors are Harlee Gallo (midfielder/defender), Jill Korosec (midfielder/defender), Stephanie Minch (defender), Molly Napolitano (defender) and Ashley Valentino (midfielder).
Castaldo has been very pleased with the play of sophomore Alyssa Donahue in practices and scrimmages.
“Alyssa Donahue is going to help us tremendously,” said Castaldo, who can use Donahue as a midfielder or a defender.
Sophomores Melanie Bakeman (defender/midfielder) and Kayla Pagnani (forward) are also back with the team. Castaldo also added freshman forward Brianna Bogdan to his varsity roster.
Although the varsity squad is made up of mostly 12th graders, the Scotties are busy developing young players for next year’s varsity team. In fact, Chris O’Leary, Castaldo’s assistant and the Scotties’ junior varsity coach, is currently training two sophomores and a freshman at the goalie position so that when V. Villalba and Walls graduate this spring the varsity club will have a goalie ready to take over that vacated spot next season.
“We had a nice group of freshmen players come out for the team this year. That’s going to help us in the future,” added Castaldo. “The state of the program is in good shape.”
As for this season, the Bordentown veteran players are looking better than ever.
“I think we are more unified this year. They’re starting to play more as a team,” said Castaldo, whose club made the playoffs and posted a 9-8-2 record last year.
It should be a very good season. Bordentown is scheduled to open its regular season with a game at Moorestown on Saturday. Bordentown is scheduled at Willingboro next Monday and at Cinnaminson on Tuesday.

