St. Joseph’s High School’s Kyle Duggan (15) and Monroe Township High School’s Alex Infosino, left, try to gain control of the ball during the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament finals on Nov. 8 at Colonia High School in Woodbridge. Monroe spoiled St. Joe’s bid for the GMC title, scoring a 2-1 victory. TERRY BOUDREAU METUCHEN
T he Metuchen High School girls soccer team may have been the underdog in its NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I semifinals match at top-seed Riverside High School on Nov. 11, but the Bulldogs possess one powerful advantage: experience.
Metuchen has advanced to the sectional finals the past two seasons but has come up short each time. Last season, Metuchen lost to Shore Regional High School in a 1-1 game decided on penalty kicks (4-3).
Record-wise, the Bulldogs are an uncharacteristic 13-7-1 this fall, but credit head coach Val Gazda for scheduling a healthy dose of Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red and White Division opponents. Despite losses to Monroe Township High School, North Brunswick Township High School, South Plainfield High School and Piscataway Township High School, the Bulldogs benefited by playing at a faster pace that is characteristic of larger school teams.
“Our strength of schedule has prepared us for the challenge ahead,” Gazda said. “For the first time in a while, we’re not the top seed and, frankly, it feels good to be playing ‘under the radar’ and just having fun. We’re a small, veteran team, but our freshmen and sophomores have added energy.”
One of the most dependable veterans is in net — Emily Buchanan — who has been supported on the back line by Alanna Benderly and flanked by Tracy Michalski, Molly Walters and Carly Taylor. Emily Costello, Christine Laskowski, Ann Pahlow, Reilly Lepak, Drew Schuchman and Tori Czochanski have added depth.
Alexa Craft-Zaletel, Taylor Hueston, Rory Josell, Ariana Santo Pietro, Skye Nowicki, Hope Kenny, Kerri Farrell, Lauren Lobdell, Miranda McKiernan, Erin Hausser and Kendall Schuchman are frequent fliers in the midfield.
Forwards getting key minutes include leading scorer Katharine Chura (17 goals), Hannah Santus, Tina Czochanski and Allie Chalker.
BISHOP AHR
The Non-Public South Jersey Group A seeding suggests top-seed Bishop George Ahr High School’s 1-0 loss to Bishop Eustace Preparatory School (eighth seed) on Nov. 7 was a huge upset. That might have been the case if two of the Trojans’ most impactful players — junior Jillian Vassallo and senior Dana DeSantis — were on the pitch.
However, Vassallo, the top scorer with 25 goals, and DeSantis, a key fixture in the midfield, were both shelved with injuries, and their absences made a major difference in Bishop Ahr’s inability to control the tempo, which was key to their success (17-2).
“We were without [those two] when we lost [1-0 in overtime] to Old Bridge [High School] in the GMC Tournament,” head coach Jim Tavormina said. “Neither was available today, and that certainly hurt us. Bishop Eustace also did a good job of knocking us off our game.”
Another factor working against the Trojans was their inability to score in the first half with a stiff wind at their backs. When Bishop Eustace gained the wind advantage in the second half, it utilized a wide-open game that was played almost exclusively in the Trojans’ half of the field. The only goal came on a corner kick that was headed in by the Bishop Eustace forward midway through the half.
Although Bishop Ahr, the defending Non-Public Group A champions, failed to advance out of its section, Tavormina had positive things to say about his team.
“We successfully defended our Blue Division title,” he said. “Last year was that we remained relatively injury-free, and that was a major plus. We’re a little down now, but we’ll bounce back.”
EDISON
The Edison High School girls soccer team ended its season at 7-13-1 with a 7-1 loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School in the North Jersey II Group IV playoffs.
The Eagles can look forward to a promising future, as their top scorer, sophomore Felicia Forsythe (18 goals, five assists), returns and will be backed by junior sweeper Gayathri Vijayakumar.
“I thought we had a great season despite losing some heartbreaking games,” Edison coach Leanne Rubiano said. “We lost three matches in overtime and in most other losses, the [margin] was a single goal.”
ST. JOSEPH
The St. Joseph High School of Metuchen soccer team ended the season by dropping two games. On Nov. 6, the Falcons were eliminated from the Non-Public A South sectional by Notre Dame High School, 4-3. Two days later, Monroe Township defeated St. Joe’s, 2-1, in the GMC Tournament championship game.
In other area boys state soccer tournament action, J.P. Stevens High School (15th seed) lost, 3-1, to Westfield High School (second seed) on Nov. 3 in North Jersey II Group IV to end its season at 10-10-1. Bishop Ahr (10th seed) was defeated by St. Joseph High School of Montvale (seventh seed), 4-2, in Non-Public A North, which ended the Trojans’ season at 6-11-2. Metuchen (11th seed) ended the fall at 10-12-1 when it was edged by Bound Brook High School (third seed), 3-2, in Central Jersey Group I.
Football
The only area team participating in the regular state sectional football tournament is Metuchen. The Bulldogs (fifth seed) will travel to New Egypt High School (fourth seed) in Central Jersey Group I.
Even though Bishop Ahr was ranked seventh and St. Joe’s eighth in Non-Public III and IV, respectively, each opted out of the regular playoffs and will participate in consolation games. The Trojans host Eastern Regional High School on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m., and the Falcons travel to Notre Dame onNov.15fora7p.m.game.
Metuchen could have helped itself gain a first-round home contest when it met Spotswood High School on Nov. 8 with the Blue Division title on the line. However, the Bulldogs couldn’t overcome a stout defense that forced four interceptions and limited the offense to one touchdown in a 10-6 loss.
Edison and J.P. Stevens were eliminated from the playoffs and will play consolation games on Nov. 15. The Eagles host Hunterdon Central Regional High School in a 1 p.m. start, and the Hawks travel to William L. Dickinson High School (Jersey City) in a game scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
Cross-country
The Metuchen boys and girls crosscountry teams placed second and third, respectively, in the Central Jersey Group I race, which was held on Nov. 8 at Thompson Park in Jamesburg.
Junior Rachel Suss outdistanced the field by 26 seconds to capture first place in 18:39.5. Mike Stonehocker finished in second place with a time of 17:49.1.
Gymnastics
In the North Jersey Section II gymnastics meet held at J.P. Stevens, the Hawks’ Shannon Gregory placed second in the all-around competition. Gregory won the balance beam and placed third in the floor exercise.
Bishop Ahr’s Sydne Powers placed fourth in the vault.