By Warren Rappleyea
After a disappointing loss in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) final a year ago, North Brunswick Township High School’s girls lacrosse team was determined to enter the 2016 season with a renewed focus.
That has certainly shown on the field, as the Raiders have been dominant in getting off to a 7-0 start. North Brunswick’s high-powered attack has already piled up 129 goals and has yet to score fewer than 15 goals in a game.
The Raiders’ ability to accumulate early leads has made it difficult for opponents to come back. Coach Danielle Bussiere’s team has gone into the half with a lead of at least five goals in six of its seven matches.
“That loss to Old Bridge [High School in the GMC final] has stayed with us ever since,” Bussiere said. “I know the girls were disappointed, and I was disappointed in myself. It’s in the back of all of our minds every time we play.”
There certainly has been an urgency on the field. As expected, the Raiders offense has been a huge factor. Midfielders Tatum Altman and Samantha Mehalick have been averaging about six goals per game each.
Altman leads the team in scoring with 39 goals and 30 assists, and Mehalick tops the Raiders in goals with 45 to go with 16 assists. Both players have surpassed the 400-point mark in their scholastic careers. Mehalick notched her 400th point in an 18-4 victory against South Brunswick High School April 5, while Altman got hers against West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North in a 15-7 win April 13.
North Brunswick has another strong scoring threat in junior midfielder Victoria Tucci, who picked up 28 goals and added 23 assists. She notched her 100th career goal late last season. A pair of freshman attackers, Hayley Greenberg and Lizzie Macioci, have looked promising, garnering four goals apiece. Sophomores Elena Vargas (three goals) and Katie Panitch (one goal) can score as well.
“Our focus has been more on the defense this season,” the coach said. “The girls focus on that every day in practice. We’re not allowing a lot of goals goals — we did give up 13 against St. John Vianney [High School], but that was the first game and the girls were still getting sorted out.”
Sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Chapman has 48 saves to her credit, playing behind veteran defender Megan Illes, Rhica Austin and speedy sophomore Cassie Oakes. Other than the St. John Vianney game — an 18-13 Raiders success — opponents have been limited offensively. Several opposition tallies have come after matches have been decided and the starters have exited the field.
“The girls are playing with confidence, and I think they’re just starting to realize how good they can be as a team,” Bussiere said.
North Brunswick was set to visit GMC rival Monroe Township High School April 19, with East Brunswick High School coming to town April 21. The Raiders will host Robbinsville High School April 23 in a non-conference matchup and will visit Notre Dame High School for another non-conference contest April 25.
South Brunswick’s girls are 6-2, with the only losses coming at the hands of North Brunswick and Monroe. After falling to the Monroe, 12-11, in overtime April 12, the Lady Vikings rebounded with a 17-6 win against East Brunswick April 14.
Caroline Hvozdovic paced the win with six goals and six assists, and she raised her totals on the year to 15 goals and 33 assists. Emily Lorber added four tallies in the win and now has 14 goals on the year.
South Brunswick held a 9-3 lead in the first half against Monroe, only to have the Falcons come flying back to tie things up and force the extra session. Hailey Konopica led the Lady Vikings offense with four goals, while Hvozdovic contributed a goal and seven assists. Shannen Sterner, who leads the team in goals with 16, had a hat trick.
Boys lacrosse
On the boys side, South Brunswick has lost five straight after starting out 2-1.
On April 14, South Brunswick fell, 11-9, to East Brunswick in a match that was tied at the end of three quarters. Tyler White and John Lanzalotto had two goals and two assists apiece, while goalkeeper Connor McDermott turned back 10 shots.
South Brunswick’s wins came against J.P. Stevens High School, 17-2, and North Brunswick, 16-2, with Anthony Ferlita scoring fives and four goals, respectively. Ferlita leads the Vikings in goals with 14 to go along with six assists. Austin Miller has pitched in with 11 goals and a team-leading 12 assists, and Austin Haren has seven goals.
North Brunswick’s boys are also 2-6 after a 16-6 loss to West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South April 16. Miguel Nicolas-Quirino posted two goals and added an assist, and Aziz Sako added a goal and an assist in the loss.
The Raiders picked up their first win April 9 with a 16-4 outing against Bishop George Ahr High School. Graham Randall scored four times, Sako netted three goals and picked up four assists and Aaron Ahr had three goals and three assists.
North Brunswick followed that up with a 9-3 victory against Edison High School April 12. Ibe Allah, who leads the team with eight goals, led the way with four markers, and Nicolas Quirino, who has seven goals, added a pair of tallies.
Ahr, Justin Brown, Randall and Sako have each scored seven times this season.