Monroe High School’s Hunter Merrick (9) hits the turf after he collides with St. Joseph High School of Metuchen’s Brandon Goldy as they chase after the ball during the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament championship game played on Nov. 8 at Colonia High School in Woodbridge. The Falcons captured the GMC crown beating St. Joe’s, 2-1. TERRY BOUDREAU EAST BRUNSWICK
A nyone associated with the East
Brunswick High School girls soccer program would admit that up until the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament championship game on Nov. 10, this was a less-than-satisfactory season.
East Brunswick had labored through the regular season, dropping an uncharacteristic seven matches — the latest being a gutwrenching 1-0 overtime defeat to South Brunswick High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinals on Nov. 8.
With only the GMC finals left, East Brunswick knew it had to dig deep to capture what would be its 32nd title in 36 years. In a testament to the pride that this program has engendered by its past accomplishments, the Bears defeated Old Bridge High School, 1-0, at the same site where it lost to the Vikings two days before.
The goal was scored in the waning minutes by senior forward Sydney Rosa, who has waged her own personal battle with health issues throughout her high school career. Yet, the senior has always managed to return to the field. It was fitting that Rosa, in her final game for East Brunswick, to deliver the winning score — something she has done in countless games throughout her career. The Bears’ season ends at 15-7-1, and they feel a lot better about themselves with yet another GMC Tournament championship.
Actually, East Brunswick played no different in its loss to South Brunswick in the state tournament two days before, controlling most of the field despite a 35 mph wind that made for challenging playing conditions for both teams. The teams played two 40-minute periods, with neither able to take advantage of the wind. They went to a second overtime period before the Vikings scored a goal that came on a spinning shot that eluded the Bears’ outstanding goalie, Alex Kalafor.
“The wind was part of the story,” East Brunswick coach Kevin Brady. “I thought we played well. We generated a lot of chances, and both goaltenders played great when they had to. There was really nothing more I could ask.”
East Brunswick’s defense was a force, especially in the second half when South Brunswick came on late with numerous scoring chances. Julia Simones, Laura Chwatel and Kaitlyn Roughan played the entire game, while Katherine McCulley and Sydney Greenspan split time on the back line.
MONROE TOWNSHIP
With or without star forward Alex Infosino, the Monroe Township High School boys soccer team (21-3-1) is on a 12-match winning streak and has already collected a trophy with the possibility of adding another.
The Falcons (fourth seed) dispatched Freehold Township High School (ninth seed) in Central Jersey Group IV to advance to the championship game on Nov. 13 at Manalapan High School (second seed).
Two days earlier, Monroe won the GMC Tournament title by defeating St. Joseph High School of Metuchen by a 2-1 score. In that game, the Falcons demonstrated their depth when David Durski deposited a shot in the right corner of the net following a pass from Matt Hoyt to score the winning goal. Infosino (25 goals) limped off with an ankle injury 10 minutes into the period.
Infosino did not play in the victory over Freehold Township. Durski (12 goals) scored along with Hunter Merrick (six goals) in the second half to provide the cushion the Falcons needed to advance to the sectional finals. According to head coach Steve MacKenzie, he is unsure about Infosino’s availability for the Manalapan game.
The Falcons earned their trip to the conference tournament finals with a 4-0 shutout against East Brunswick on Nov. 6. Monroe built a 2-0 lead before a player for the Bears was issued a red card, which gave the Falcons a one-man edge for the remainder of the game.