Cougars are new in back

Bull has MHS winning again

By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
   Alyssa Bull is making the most of her big chance.
   Gone from the Montgomery High School girls’ soccer team are some of the biggest names in the program’s history. Bull is one of the dozen remaining seniors looking to fill the holes left by graduation.
   ”Last year, my big role on the team was to go in for five minutes and give Lauren (McClintic) a break,” Bull said. “I was a cheerleader on the bench. Now that I’m getting more playing time and I’m in a bigger role.”
   Bull is one of three brand new backs as the Cougars have stuck with their three-back system that allows them to put more pressure forward at the risk of giving up some counter-attacking. MHS’ new starting trio of Bull, Casey Niper and Lexi Simon in front of goalie Ally Mancino passed its first big test when it opened the season with a 1-0 win over Watchung Hills on Friday and followed it with a 5-0 win over Warren Hills on Saturday.
   ”I still feel we have more to prove,” Bull said. “It’s only been a few games. People are kind of overlooking us, and that motivates me a lot. Everyone on our team believes we can do it. We’re out to prove it.
   ”All preseason, I’ve been playing there,” she added. “I’m learning the formation of the three back. I fell in love with it.”
   MHS opened the season with a goal by Madison Smith from Marcia Voigt, then rode their defense as it blanked Watchung Hills and their high-scoring forward Daphne Corboz.
   ”That was a big challenge whether they can handle a premier forward in the conference,” said MHS head coach Jeremy Beardsley, whose team faces another challenge at always tough Ridge today. “They did a great job, all of them. It sent a great vote of confidence that these are the three girls. They really responded to it. It helps to have Ally Mancino behind them.”
   The all-state goalie only had to make one save in the opener. The next day, she made five as the Cougars broke open a tight game with goals by Caroline Boger, Emily Knesevitch and Voigt in the final six minutes of the first half against Warren Hills. The defense again limited Warren Hills chances Saturday as they gained confidence from their performance on Friday.
   ”Every time I’d go in for a tackle and win it, it got my confidence up,” Bull said of the Watchung Hills game. “It was a good thing to have a challenge like we that. And it was good to prove to team we can shut down a good team.”
   Bull and the Cougars are hoping they can continue to reward Beardsley’s confidence in sticking with the three-back formation. The Cougars have played it over the last three years with great effectiveness and saw positive signs in the preseason, but weren’t sure how it would look in its first official game.
   ”I really like that we were in a very tough competitive game,” Beardsley said. “It’s our farthest road game. Conditions weren’t good. To be in that tight game and pull it out, that’s huge.”
   The Cougars have help at the defensive end from five midfielders and play just two forwards, but they broke open the Warren Hills game by going to a third forward. The Cougars also won’t stick to their starting three as the only three in the back — a change from the past. Instead, Niper and Voigt will spell each other in the midfield at times.
   ”It’s a work in progress,” Beardsley said. “They have to be willing to learn and learn from their mistakes. They did a great job of positioning and sliding and covering for each other (Friday). That’s the hallmark of that system. You have to defend as a group. They’re doing a good job of learning it.”
   Despite spelling McClintic at forward last year, Bull considers herself more of a defensive player. She has also played in the midfield for MHS and the back during club soccer and has high level experience, just not much high school playing time.
   ”We know we lost a lot of talent,” Bull said. “But just because we lost a lot of talent, doesn’t mean we don’t still have talent. We work hard and practice hard because we want this to be a good year.”
   Bull only expects the defense to get better with each game. The key to its success is working together and knowing where everyone is at all the time.
   ”It’s like a dance,” Bull said. “When someone moves, you move. You have to be in the right position.”
   Alyssa Bull is one who intends to make the most of her last dance with the Cougars.