Jackson Liberty and Allentown met in a high school soccer match on Sept. 16 in Allentown. The Redbirds defeated the visiting Lions, 1-0. Above, Jackson Liberty’s Cassidy Benintente heads the ball as Allentown’s Jessica Gazzani moves in. At right, Allentown’s Gaby Parker and Jackson Liberty’s Miranda Holzlein compete for an advantage. PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff A 3-0 record coming into this week is not unusual for New Egypt High School’s traditionally powerful field hockey team, but with only five starters back, that mark is a little surprising to Warriors coach Katie Nicholson.
“I am happily surprised,” said Nicholson. “We lost a lot of seniors and have a new group. We’re young, probably one of the youngest teams we’ve had.”
But despite the overall youth of the squad, the players came in well prepared for preseason training, and they want to continue the Warriors’winning tradition, Nicholson said.
“We always think about being successful. History helps us out,” the coach said. “Teams are intimidated by what we’ve done in the past.”
Nicholson said this year’s group of players has taken on the challenge to excel. She pointed to a 2-1 overtime victory over Holy Cross of Delran in the second game of the season when senior Cortney Natalicchio scored the winning goal, but freshman Jessica Andreula fed the ball to sophomore Makenzie Magnotta to assist the goal.
Natalicchio, an inside forward, is one of the team’s returning starters and has led the way in the early going with five goals in a season that also includes a 3-1 victory over Maple Shade and a 7-3 triumph over Cinnaminson.
Alexa Magnotta, another returning starter and center midfielder in a formation that includes four forwards, three midfielders and three defenders, has scored four goals. New Egypt’s other returnees are seniors Danielle Solinski, the goalkeeper, forward Danielle Andreula and defender Shelby Brevogel.
Solinski “has been playing really well, and this is one of the best seasons she’s played,” Nicholson said of her goalie. “She’s kept us in games, including the overtime game that we should have lost.”
Sophomore Joanne Poedubicky is ready for the call at anytime as a backup goalkeeper.
Emma Bunce, a junior who transferred from Northern Burlington, also has experience as a goalkeeper, but she will not be eligible to play until later in the season.
Although Nicholson played forward in her field hockey career, she has tried to give attention to the defense, and to stress that aspect of the game to those playing in the other areas of the field as well.
“I’m more offensive minded, but most forwards don’t play defense, and we have focused that on our forwards and midfielders, too,” the coach said.
Aside from Brevogel, the defense is young but promising, as juniors Jackie Delannoy and Makayla Probasco and sophomores Sarah Graser and Alana Best are sharing the load.
The Magnotta sisters, Mackenzie and Alexa, and the Andreula sisters, Jessica and senior Danielle, have bolstered the midfield along with senior Rachel Roccuzzo and junior Kayla Ranj.
But Danielle Andreula spends much of her time starting at forward with Natalicchio and junior Courtney Stillwell. Also playing at forward are juniors Brianna Consolloy and sophomore Katie Solinski.
Nicholson said she and her staff, which again includes her mother, Patti, and Sara Bouroult, are anticipating another challenging season in a tough division with particularly tough games ahead against Florence and Bishop Eustace.