New Egypt High School running back Kevin Mason (36) takes a hit from an Allentown High School defender during the first quarter of the Redbirds’ 42-0 victory over the visiting Warriors on Sept. 14 in Allentown. ERIC SUCAR staff I t is only three games into the 2012 season, but already there are signs in a 2-1 start of a promising season for the Jackson Liberty High School field hockey team.
“We are getting more and more established,” said Kate Gibson, now in her second year as head coach of a program that is in its sixth year. “We lost a lot, eight players, off last year’s team, but we come back just as strong, actually stronger.”
The Lions opened the season with a 3-1 victory over Pinelands Regional and then lost to Point Pleasant Borough, 4-0. Both of those teams are in the Shore Conference B South Division, where Jackson Liberty is now playing following a Shore Conference realignment.
The Lions bounced back from the loss to the Panthers and beat Barnegat, 1-0, and Gibson said the second meeting against Point Pleasant Borough could be different.
Jackson Liberty is scheduled to play today, Sept. 20, at home against Central Regional in another B South match.
Meanwhile, Jackson Memorial High School is off to a 1-3 start. The Jaguars have sustained tough losses to Lacey, 3-2, in overtime, and Toms River North, 4-2. Aside from a 5-0 victory over Brick Memorial, first-year head coach Jenna Blondina said, “We’ve had trouble putting the ball in the cage. Defensively, we are pretty solid.”
Freshman Kayla Skodmin leads the way with three goals and has worked her way from the bench into a starting spot at forward.
It is also a modest offense at Jackson Liberty where senior forward Courtney Titus, one of the Lions’ tri-captains, has scored all four goals in the three games and established herself as an offensive threat, Gibson said.
“This season is like no other,” Titus said as the team already has half as many wins as it had in 2011. “We work to our potential in practice and it carries over into games. We lost eight players, but with the returning players and so many of them seniors, we want it so bad.”
Having so many seniors on the roster enhances the team’s maturity.
“Absolutely. We have had great senior leadership this year, which is really important,” Gibson said. “It’s nice to have it, especially early in the games.” Gibson commended the off-season commitment of all of her players and a near unanimous response to playing in the Toms River Summer League.
“Besides all our athletic ability, we all get along like no other year,” said senior center midfielder Amy Hickman, another captain. “Instead of saying, ‘We have a game today,’ we are so much more excited about it. This is the best team I’ve been on.”
What also boosts the team’s confidence, said Hickman, is having a goalie like Karlie Baran, a junior who has played in showcases in Phoenix and Virginia Beach as a member of the nationally recognized Jersey Intensity travel program. Baran is being considered for a tournament in November with the Puerto Rican national team and is drawing attention from NCAA Division I colleges.
“She is a leader back there with great quickness,” Gibson said.
Baran has good support with defenders Alex Mattei, a senior captain, junior Morgan Koerber, and sophomore Oksana Reed.
“We worked our butts off for four years and this is our time,” Mattei said. “Our talent is evenly spread throughout the field and we work together as a team and for each other, not just one person. It’s great chemistry on the field. Defending with Karlie in goal makes me feel more comfortable because our backs know that if a shot does get through, she can stop it.”
Joining Hickman in the midfield is senior Olivia Aviles and sophomore Lexi Schiazza. Juniors Tara Chesney and Jessica Taboada are the other forwards. Seniors Brianna Guffanti, Brittany Lafalte and Nicole Kleinertz are key reserves.
Jackson Memorial may need to go to its bench while playing three games in three days this week. The Jaguars were scheduled to play at Southern Regional in Manahawkin on Sept. 19, and its first game outside of the Shore Conference A South Division on Sept. 20 at home against Manchester, before going to Toms River East on Sept. 21 for another division game.
Junior Teresa Carr was injured in the last game and it is not certain when the forward will return. Junior Lindsay Reist has started at forward. Since Skodmin has worked her way into the starting lineup, senior Samantha Jerry has been moved back to midfield with juniors Kayla Molnar and Kelsey Leibman.
Freshman Morgan Novak has made 32 saves in goal in four games and Blondina said she has measured up to the challenge despite her youth.
Novak’s older sister, Emily, a senior, is a new starter on defense along with juniors Rianna Jackson in the middle and Brooke Weinstein on the outside.
Junior Sarah Vallee has been a spot starter in the midfield.