There’s a lot to look forward to in girls soccer in the Freehold Regional High School District this fall.
Nicole Whitley (Freehold Township High School), Emma Smith (Freehold High School), Rebecca Hamilton (Howell High School) and Frankie Tagliaferri, Alison Russo and Amanda Visco (Colts Neck High School) were all teammates on the PDA Arsenal U- 17 traveling team that won the Elite Club National League national championship this summer. All play on high school teams with championship aspirations. Their play speaks highly for the talent in the district.
There is anticipation of another showdown between cross-town rivals Freehold and Freehold Township. Last year, it went to the Colonials, who captured the division title in their first year in the division. They will go at it again with Howell and Manalapan High School looming as interlopers.
At year’s end, Howell was playing as well as anyone in the division, as the Rebels played their way to the Central Jersey Group IV championship match.
COLTS NECK
Things are very bright at Colts Neck High School, where head coach Doug Phillips’ club played for the NJSIAA Group III state championship last November and returns most of its significant players, including Tagliaferri, Russo and Visco.
Along the way to the title game, the Cougars captured the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III championship and Shore Conference B North Division crown and reached the Shore Conference Tournament finals.
With so many expectations on his team, Phillips’ main concern is keeping the Cougars away from thinking long term and focusing on the now.
“I think we are a very talented team that can play with anyone, but it is still September,” Phillips said. “We are really focused on one game at a time.
“We still have much improvement ahead of us.”
Tagliaferri, who has committed to Penn State University, spearheads the Cougars’ attack. While her 29 goals and 14 assists last year speak for themselves, it’s the way she makes everyone else on the team better that means the most to Colts Neck.
Russo, Visco and Bridgette King are back with Tagliaferri to give Colts Neck a potent attack that teams will have difficulty slowing down. Visco, a back, is headed to Rutgers University. King, who scored 18 goals in 2014, has committed to the University of Vermont, and Russo, who is headed to Bucknell University, had eight goals and 11 assists last fall.
In the opening week of the season, Tagliaferri has been unstoppable. She scored nine goals in the first three games (hat tricks in each game), which were all wins for Colts Neck, including a 4-3 overtime win over rival Wall High School where she scored the game-winner in overtime.
Also returning from last year’s 20-3 squad are Tara Walenczyk (forward), who is headed to Miami University of Ohio); Nicole Loehl (defense), Kayla Lee (midfield), Alexandra Ryan (defense) and Kristen Gambardella (defense).
Lauren Feasters and Sedona Samaras are the goalies.
Two incoming freshmen are making an impact: Jenna Buckley and Kristi Mikula at midfield.
Completing the team are Morgan Krisman, Eva Cutler, Noelle Conforti, Kara Camarco, Alexandra Largey and Isabella Fitzhenry.
The Cougars have a lot of talent and experience. And, as Phillips pointed out, the challenge will be to stay focused during the regular season and not look ahead to November and the postseason.
FREEHOLD
Colonials head coach Elyse Ingui expects her team to again compete for championships at the division, conference and state level. Freehold has a veteran cast, led by Smith, who is headed to Texas Christian University.
Smith controls the game for the Colonials from midfield and brings her intensity to the team.
Ashley Latona, also a midfielder and the top returning scorer (eight goals, four assists) is another dominating player in the middle.
The return of Jenna Huskey from injury to midfield makes Freehold strong in the middle and able to keep possession and attack.
Jordan Cerio, who had 12 shutouts in goal, is back, as is keeper/defender Jennifer Finnegan, who had five blank sheets when she saw time in goal.
The Colonials are young on defense with sophomores Amanda Tran, Kate Lemunyon and Taylor Rupprecht and junior Olivia Duffy. All played last year.
Also returning from last season’s 15-4-2 team are Samantha Wiles (midfield), Kaleigh Rudic (midfield), Gianna Ritornaro (midfield) ands Erin Reidy (forward).
Newcomers include Ashley Fuentes (forward/defense), Carly Daum (midfield), Amanda Bailey, Brianna Cassidy (defense), Maria Amalfatano (forward), Carly Columbe (midfield), Stephanie Moir (goalkeeper) and Stephanie Avillo (forward).
FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP
Dave Patterson’s Freehold Township team won division and Shore Conference Tournament championships while establishing itself as one of the Shore’s perennial powerhouses. This season should be no different.
“We are a deep, talented, experienced team that should compete for division, conference and state championships,” the Patriots’ head coach said.
It all starts with Rutgers-bound midfielder Whitley, a dynamic scorer and playmaker. Whitley scored 22 goals and had eight assists.
Nicole Sasso (five goals, seven assists) is back alongside Whitely in the middle, giving Freehold Township a very strong combination there.
Lacey Powell, Kiersten Reszkowski, Alyssa Reszkowski, Olivia Schwartz, Kayla West and Bri Cuccinelli make Freehold Township deep at midfield.
Up front, Jasmine Colbert and Kristen Romano are returning.
On defense Victoria Coppa, Jada Colbert, Caleigh Farrell and Meaghan Latona are key returnees.
The Patriots are set in net with Angela DeCicco, who had 11 shutouts in 2014.
In all, Freehold Township has 14 players returning from last fall’s squad.
The team’s newcomers are Lexi Fritz (defense/ midfield), Laura Noseworthy (midfield), Theresa Sanzone (midfield), Paige Farrell (midfield/defense), Hailey Tanner (midfield), Hannah Trainor (defense), Emily Moore (defense) and Kaela Chadzuitko (goalkeeper).
HOWELL
At Howell, coach Courtney Bonura’s Rebels look to pick up where they left off last fall when, from the 11th seed, they reached the Central Jersey Group IV title game. With eight returning starters back, led by Penn State-bond Hamilton, the Rebels are a team to look out for.
Hamilton, a standout stopper on defense, is very dangerous on restarts and free kicks with her accurate placements. She scored three goals last year.
Led by Hamilton, Howell is solid on defense, returning Kelly Garretson, Nicolette Runko and Amanda Verdoni.
Up front Sierra Enea and Bethan Feintstein, who combined for eight goals and seven assists, are back.
Howell’s returnees at midfield are Taylor Blazis, Medgan MacWilliams, Shannon McRory and Katie Klein.
The Rebels’ newcomers are Kayla Lopes (midfield), Marissa Darew (forward), Kayla Fay (midfield), Rachel Kern (goalkeeper), Erika DeSantis (goalkeeper), Sara Huguenin (midfield), Angela Sulfaro (forward) and Jessica O’Brien (midfield).
MANALAPAN
Manalapan would like to put itself back up there with the division’s best — a place they Braves have been accustomed to. Head coach Rick Garretson has what it takes.
“We are a veteran team with the addition of some skilled young players,” he said. “We expect to compete for a division title.”
The Braves have many important returnees, including Brianna Waring (defense), Erin Rotondo (midfield), Ashley Primentel (midfield), Arianna Ferarro (forward), Marissa Grosso (defense), Lyndsey Woodworth (defense), Marisa Presby (defense), Mya Donnelly (midfield), Christine Critelli (midfield), Olivia Connors (midfield), Ariel Kamen (goalkeeper), Kayla Saltzman (midfield), Ariella Kaplan (forward) and Gabriella Naletilic (goalkeeper).
The newcomers are Amand DeMatteo (defense), Julia Adamkiewicz (forward), Ashlyn Hovan (midfield), Angela Carbonara (midfield) and Kailey Saigkris (defense).
MARLBORO
Marlboro High School wants to join the fray, and head coach Tim McGeough has an experienced team than can hang with the division’s best.
“We have a lot of returnees, so we are looking to use our experience to help us do well in a very competitive A North division as always,” McGeough said.
Senior Charis Chukuka anchors the Mustangs on the defensive end. Her exceptional speed helps her cover ground quickly.
Jordan Dictrow (midfield), Erin Hickey (defense), Alexa McFadden (midfield), Kerin Miller (midfield), Amara Naboulsi (midfield), Mya Schaumloffel (goalkeeper), Sarah Topper (goalkeeper) and Andrea Vetrano are the senior veterans providing experience.
Jaclyn Bernstein (midfield), Julia Caracappa (midfield), Alexa Chapman (forward), Rebecca Gorenstein (forward), Sara Katz (midfield), Gina Senia (forward), Mia Rosenthal (forward), Francesca Donato (defense), Alexandra Jay (forward), and Sydney Weber complete the returnees.
Marlboro is looking for Bernstein to control midfield and for Gorenstein and Champman to be the go-to goal scorers.
Newcomers include Celine Brady, Samantha Howard and Jessica Farella, who are all freshmen.