Team scoring more in 2008
by John E. Powers, Sports Writer
The Manville High School girls’ soccer team keeps getting back up, keeps running out to practice and their head coach, Erin Delaney, keeps a spirit to make it all work.
Manville’s 4-0 loss to Delaware Valley (4-1-2) dropped their record to 0-5. Frustration was the main tone in Delaney’s voice after the game.
She had tried adjusting her lineup, moving junior defender Dana Mortensen to the front, moving goalie Sylwia Pupek to the midfield and moving freshman Megan Loriot to keeper. Junior forward Amy Evanylo was moved back to center mid.
”We looked better in the first half,” Delaney said. “We looked really good; it was just a matter of not finishing. But we really didn’t play well in the second half.”
Junior forward Erin Petrullo had a big day for the Terriers with two goals and one assist. Sophomore midfielder Paige Peck scored the first goal and also tallied an assist on Petrullo’s second score.
”The first goal was a fluke, it was basically an own goal,” Delaney said.
Delaware Valley senior goalkeeper Erin Wydner had seven saves. Evanylo, Mortensen and senior midfielder Angelika Lazur had two shots apiece. Sophomore Tara Covert also had some chances, Delaney said.
”I think we’re definitely getting better, certainly better than last season,” said Evanylo, referring to the 1-17 season in 2007. “It’s just a question of putting it all together and getting over the small injuries and sickness.”
Pupek was hurt and left the game after a hard tackle and senior defender Rebecca Burke had to leave with an injury.
”We were dropping like flies,” Delaney said.
The Lady Mustangs have to get healthy. Plenty of games in a short period of time are ahead. The team is scheduled to play at Bernards Thursday afternoon, then will have a Somerset County Tournament preliminary round game Saturday against an opponent to be determined. The seeding meeting was scheduled for Wednesday.
Right now, it really doesn’t matter who the Mustangs play. The key is to improve. At least, the team went four games before it was shut out.
”I really think we have a lot more confidence than we had last year,” Evanylo said. “At least we’re getting some goals.”
The most painful loss happened last Tuesday, a 3-2 overtime setback to Belvidere.
Sophomore midfielder Christine Pohl scored in the 55th minute to tie it for Manville and Evanylo put the team ahead at 2-1 with 14 minutes left in regulation, but Belvidere’s Dana Drake tied it with 1:30 left to send it to extra sessions. The County Seaters won it on Christine Nechay’s second goal seven minutes into the second overtime. Pupek made 28 saves for the Mustangs.
”That was pretty upsetting; their coach even said we deserved to win,” Delaney said. “It was an intense game. It was very upsetting. Sylwia thought it was her fault, the defense thought it was their fault. I told the kids that you never hear about a goalie losing a game or a quarterback losing a game. It’s a team sport.”
Manville lost to Hackettstown 6-1 Thursday with Lazur scoring off an assist from Evanylo at the 56th minute. Pupek played the first half in goal, while Loriot made nine saves in the second.
”We didn’t have a full roster, we had so many kids out,” Delaney said. “Three or four girls had a virus the day before. That might have factored in, but I’m glad they didn’t shut us out.”
The team also got bad news that sophomore defender Corinne DeSantis is likely out for the season with an injured toe.
“I just hope we get healthy so we can compete like I think we can,” Delaney said