Courtney Krol likes the state of high school soccer since her halcyon days at Howell High School.
“It’s more possession-oriented rather than direct [kick-and-run],” she said. “The level of play has improved. The coaching across the board is better at an early age.”
Krol is now in her second year as the head coach at her alma mater and believes the higher level of play is good for the Rebels. Howell began the week with a 5-2- 2 record and was within reach of its two goals for the 2012 season: qualifying for the Shore Conference Tournament and for the NJSIAA state sectional tournament.
Howell qualified for the state sectional tournament in 2011, but the Rebels did not make the cut for the conference tournament. That they are now in range of qualifying for both tournaments in 2012 is quite an accomplishment considering how many new and young players are on the team.
“We have 12 new girls, we graduated 10,” Krol said. “It took time for them to understand my philosophy, but after a rocky start we are building and getting stronger. I am definitely happy where we are. We could always improve.”
The possession game which Krol enjoys has been clicking for Howell because of a pair of midfielders, junior Jessica Vigna and senior Brittany Hamilton.
“They build the offense,” the coach said. “They connect well with each other and dominate.”
While Vigna is the team’s go-to player when the Rebels need a score, the key to the team’s offense has been its scoring balance. Eight different Rebels have scored at least one goal this season.
Vigna leads the charge with five goals. Kristen Carrete and Elizabeth Goncalves have struck twice for Howell, with Devin Diedrich, Brittany Hamilton, Marissa Hamilton, Darian Marsh and Marissa Siegel all chipping in with one goal.
Howell is 5-2-2 because the defense has stayed strong throughout the campaign. Krol credits senior Kelly Corrado with “holding things together.” Corrado has three freshmen playing on the back line with her. “She’s the one that communicates and has them playing together as a unit,” Krol said of Corrado.
Brooke Buckalew, Rebecca Hamilton and Nicolette Runko are the freshmen defenders.
Howell has been using a two-goalie rotation from game-to-game and that strategy has been working. Senior Caitlin Matus and sophomore Sarah Borrelli have both been playing well. Krol said the starting nod for a goalie depends on who Howell is playing.
Brittany Hamilton is one of three Hamilton sisters who are all in the starting lineup. Sophomore Marissa is also a midfielder/forward and Rebecca starts on defense.
Krol said she had an inkling that the three sisters would be starting.
“They are great girls,” she said. “They are always looking to improve and to help each other out. They are all about team.”
While qualifying for the conference and state tournaments were Howell’s stated goals for 2012, the Rebels’ recent hot streak has them in the Shore Conference A North Division title picture. Howell is 4-2-2 and first place Manalapan is 6-1-2 in league play .
With two games with Manalapan still to play (Oct. 9 and Oct. 15), Howell will have a big say as to what happens in the race.
While she was starring at Howell, Krol set the bar high for Rebels soccer. She led the Rebels to their only NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship game appearance. She wants the program to keep getting stronger, to the point where the Rebels will be serious Central Jersey contenders.
Krol went on to a distinguished career at The College of New Jersey in Ewing Township. She was a three-time New Jersey Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year winner.
Krol graduated from TCNJ in 2008 and began her coaching career at Howell with the freshmen and junior varsity teams. She said coaching those teams helped to make her transition to varsity coach a lot easier for her and the players.