BRICK TOWNSHIP — The Brick Memorial High School’s girls soccer program, which has nurtured players for its many state-ranked teams and who went on to compete in college, has many of them coming back for an alumnae game later this month.
“We have 47 girls playing and we’re very excited,” coach Bill Caruso said. “I’m surprised we’ve gotten such a great turnout.”
He expects more to sign up for the game, which starts at 11 a.m. on June 27 at Veterans Memorial Middle School, but will limit the game to about 60 players.
Caruso said many players learned about the alumnae game by checking Facebook files online, where many graduates have kept in touch with each other.
He said the idea to revive the game, which was played for a few years early in his coaching career, was suggested by former player Jenn Schweitzer, who often comes back to support the team during the postseason tournament. She talked about it during the NJSIAA Group IV semifinal loss to Lenape last November.
“They’re as excited as I am,” Caruso said. “So many of them had played a part in the many times we got into the state tournament. The greatest day for me aside from Christmas is the opening day of the state tournament.”
Many of the graduates played on the four state championship teams over the past nine years. The Mustangs last fall also won a second straight Shore Conference A South championship.
The roster, which reads more like a Hall of Fame for girls athletics at the school, includes Shannon Plunkett, the first All- State player Caruso coached, Jessica Fuccello of the University of Pennsylvania, who missed much of last season with an injury, as well as Mallory Baker of the University of Maryland, goalies Jaime Kaiser, Shannon Boe and Lauren Acosta, a former goalkeeper at Rutgers who currently is the team’s goalie coach; Tara Rafferty, Jordan Downs, Jenn Olszewski; Christina Cuffari, who plays at the College of St. Rose in Albany, N.Y. and Ann McCarthy, who played on the College of New Jersey as a freshman last fall, to name a few.
There also are some sister siblings who are committed to the game, including the Toomeys — Megan, Kaitlin and Brianne; the Bradys — Kelly, Tierney and Shana; and the Conways — Caitlin and Sara.
Players will be divided into two teams coached by current and former assistants. Current assistant coaches Kevin Farley and Crystal Petraccoro will be joined by former assistants Craig Liberatore, Vin Doyle, Joe Leone and former goalie coach John NaCarlo, now the head boys soccer coach at Holmdel High School. Petraccoro also may step onto the field. She is the school’s No. 2 all-time scorer. Fuccello finished as the No. 3 scorer and Cuffari also rated among the top all-time goal-scorers.
Players must sign up at [email protected] or by calling 732-779-1286.
Caruso said plans also are under way to again hold the Mustang Soccer Camp, which will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on July 6 through July 10 at the Drum Point Sports Complex. The camp will stress fundamentals and the finer points of the game.
“The Twin County Soccer Club and Brick Recreation have been great about us using their fields for the camp,” said Caruso.
He will be assisted by his staff and former players from the Brick Memorial program. The camp fee is $110 per camper and the deadline to register is June 24 at www.mustangsoccercamp.com or by emailing to [email protected]