The Colts Neck High School girls lacrosse team continued on an upward trajectory this spring. Coach Troy Madison’s Cougars set a school single season record for wins (14) and won a game in the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time. The Cougars also qualified for the NJSIAA state tournament.
Madison began the 2010 season with optimism.
“We knew we would be pretty good with all the people we had returning,” he said. “We lost a lot of close games last year and I thought we would get over the hump this year. We have been winning the one-goal games.”
The close games are where experience has paid off for the Cougars, who, with eight juniors and two sophomores, remain a young team whose best days are still ahead of it.
Juniors Hallie Keselman and Sarah Greenberg are the returning players Madison built the team around. They have proven to be as good as any two midfielders in the Shore Conference.
Keselman, who has scored 80 goals and dished off 36 assists this season, is well on her way to becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer. This spring Madison moved her from attack to midfield.
“We put her at midfield because we wanted to get more out of her all across the field,” the coach said. “With her finesse and speed, she is great in transition. She also helped our defense out.”
Greenberg also ranked among the Shore Conference’s leading scorers with 45 goals and 22 assists this season. Like Keselman, she is an outstanding two-way player who is as valuable on defense as she is in finishing plays or creating chances for her teammates.
The Cougars have a simple approach on the field because of their two midfielders.
“Our whole philosophy is that if they have the ball, good things will happen for us,” said Madison. “They work well together. They have such a knowledge of the game and they continue to improve. Every year they put the time in and work hard. The other kids feed off their example.”
While Keselman and Greenberg have played at a high level all season, the difference between this team and the squad that won a school-record 11 games in 2009 is its depth on offense.
“Last year we only had two goal scorers,” Madison said. “This year we have four options and we have a lot of young players who have scored 10 to 12 goals for us.”
Juniors Alexa Benanti (33 goals) and Alison Corsi (22 goals) are the players included among the four options Madison mentioned.
Seniors Jayne Kornbluh and Nicole Papaleo have been stalwarts on defense. With such an explosive offense, it is important that the Cougars field a defense that can contain the opposition and get the ball to Keselman and Greenberg.
Madison said his team has been playing multiple defenses this season and taking advantage of its depth in that area of the field. The Cougars will throw a zone at opponents or get after them man-to-man.
“Our goal is to keep offenses guessing,” the coach said. “We don’t want them to get comfortable running plays. Our defense has been doing a good job. We have been holding teams under 10 goals (a game).”
Junior keeper Jordan Back has been solid all season. She has made 142 saves and ranks among the top 10 in the conference in saves. Her save percentage stands at .490.
The Cougars had hoped to challenge Freehold Township for the Shore ConferenceANorth Division title this spring. That did not happen, since the Patriots marched through the division undefeated (10-0) once again and the Cougars were second (6-4).
However, the Cougars believe that with their annual progress, 2011 will be the time to think about a championship.
On May 15 the Cougars won their opening game in the NJSIAA South Group III state tournament against Wall High School, 13-10.
Keselman scored seven goals and added two assists in the win over Wall. Greenberg and Benanti each scored three goals in the game that was played in Colts Neck.
In its next state tournament game the No. 8 seed Cougars (14-5) played at No. 1 seed Moorestown on May 18. That game was played after this edition went to press.