SBHS a mix of veterans and youth

By David Gurney, Sports Writer
   Last year, South Brunswick High School field hockey head coach Danielle Matlack knew what she was getting from her team.
   Forward Ashley Wandishin was going to score, Jen Sisco was going to distribute in the midfield, and her seniors were going to lead.
   A year later, many of the players that moved the program along in leaps and bounds, have also moved along. In their place is a group of veteran players and newcomers, many of whom have been in the program since the foundation of the feeder program in the middle school.
   Yet, there are unknowns for Matlack and company.
   Unknowns, she hopes, that will be proven commodities as the season gets underway in a week.
   ”We need to stay healthy this year, and we need to find some depth,” said seventh-year coach, whose team has missed the state tournament by one game the last two seasons. “They have the want and the desire, but we need to stay healthy and to get some kids who can step in there and not lose anything on the field. We’re losing a lot of leadership and a lot of scoring from last year. We need to fill those roles if we’re to do well.”
   Matlack does return a wealth of talent from last season’s 6-8-2 team.
   Eight seniors return, including: midfielder Corey Webb, back Maggie Ford, goalie Rebecca Dahl, forward Carly Bossert, forward Jen Luck, forward Lauren Nissenblatt, back Stephanie Klarer and Meygan Nitti.
   Both Webb (one goal, seven assists) and Ford were named honorable mention on the All-GMC and Home News teams.
   Forwards Bossert, Webb and Luck will have the critical jobs of replacing the offense generated by Wandishin, Sisco and forward Danielle Hudak. Wandishin and her 30 points (11 goals, eight assists) will be especially tough to replace.
   ”We’re going to have to replace a lot of offense,” Matlack said. “We have to see. Carly (Bossert), Corey (Webb) and Jen (Luck) will hopefully pick up some scoring, along with Lauren Nissenblatt. Maggie Ford is more defense, but we’re going to have her playing some midfield this year. Hopefully she’ll step into a playmaker role for us.
   ”It’s time for Maggie to step into that role for us. She’s one of our better skilled players. She still has defensive instincts, but we’ll move her forward a little this year.”
   One constant that Matlack does have to depend on is Dahl in net. Dahl allowed only two goals in a 3-1-1 stretch last season that saw SB beat both Metuchen and Sayreville, tie eventual county champs Monroe, and lose to rival Old Bridge by a tough 1-0 tally.
   ”You can never doubt her will to work,” Matlack said. “We’ve been practicing more stuff in the air with her and she’s getting much better. We just have a feeling that will happen more this year. But she’s a workhorse. She’s a vocal leader back there, a role model with how hard she works. And she always comes out to play.”
   Underclassmen returning or joining Matlack’s squad include: juniors Samantha Berk, Jenna Hudak, Elizabeth Latinsky, Ali Sisco, Kelly Taikina, Kristen Zollo, Bindi Patel and Alexandra Fong. The two sophomores on the squad are Angie Goff and Dana Piemonte.
   ”We’ve missed the state tournament by one game the last couple years, but we’re getting better,” Matlack said. “Injuries really didn’t help, but we still did okay. These kids work hard, and it’s a good community we have. We just have to see who steps up this year.”