I t’s never easy putting a national championship season behind you, and that is one of the challenges that head coach Katie Miller and the 2014 Brookdale Community College women’s soccer team face this fall.
Miller has her way of putting the championship in the past by reminding her players “that [2013] is over. This is a new team with new teammates, and it’s a new season.”
However, she added that the Jersey Blues’ goals haven’t changed.
“New team, same dream,” she said.
Brookdale, which begins the season ranked No. 1 in the preseason National Junior College Athletic Association Division III poll, has a nice mixture of returning veterans from that national championship team with talented incoming freshmen.
The graduation of All-American Chelsea James (Howell) leaves a big hole in the middle. Miller is confident that sophomores Brooke Tartis (Neptune) and Meghan Begley (Mater Dei Prep) can take over her role and provide solid midfield play as playmakers.
Up front, Caroline Duerr (Manasquan) is a proven scorer. She was second on the team in scoring last year with 20 goals and 10 assists. Brianna Penix, a freshman from Ocean Township, has the potential to give the Jersey Blues a strong one-two punch at forward. Miller pointed out that both can create their own shot, and they have outstanding dribbling skills that help them beat defenders one-on-one.
Returning starter Ali Maddock (Henry Hudson) heads the defensive backfield. Sophomore Amanda Anastasia (Middletown South) moves to the sweeper position this year.
Brookdale allowed just 0.57 goals a game last fall.
Freshmen Alexandria Montefinese (Monmouth Regional) and Meredith Parleman (Middletown North), who is playing stopper, complete the Brookdale defense. One of the Jersey Blues’ most impressive newcomers is freshman goalie Marni Stewart (Marlboro). Besides her skills in goal, Miller likes the way she has become a leader.
“She has shown initiative with her willingness to take charge as a freshman,” the head coach said.
Completing Brookdale’s 2014 women’s soccer team are Viktoria Odell (Red Bank Regional), midfield; Kimberly D’Ermilio (Old Bridge), midfield; Raquel Rodriguez (Red Bank Regional), midfield; Nicole Rodriguez (Millstone/Union), midfield/forward; Ashley Cafarella (Old Bridge), midfield; and Kelly Tompkins (Shore Regional), midfield/forward.
Brookdale will meet the challenge of being the defending national champions playing the same soccer that brought the title in the first place.
“[Keeping] it simple, passing to the feet and moving the ball,” Miller said.
The Jersey Blues opened their 2014 season looking like a No. 1 team with two wins. On Sept. 4, they scored two goals in the first four minutes on their way to a 4-1 win over Division I Burlington County College.
Duerr couldn’t have started her season quicker, as she scored three times and assisted on the other. Rodriguez scored Brookdale’s other goal.
On Sept. 6, Brookdale went on the road to play Rowan College at Gloucester County — ranked No. 7 in the country — and dominated, 6-1. Duerr added four more goals, and Begley and Tartis notched one each. Rodriguez had three assists.
Ocean County College, which was ranked eighth in the country, comes to Lincroft on Sept. 27 for a big Region and Garden State Athletic Conference game.