By Wayne Witkowski
The girls’ soccer teams at Middletown High School North and Middletown High School South fell out contention in the Shore Conference B North Division, but both rebounded with sorely needed wins last week as they head into their crosstown showdown Oct. 13 at Middletown North.
Both teams moved back into contention for Shore Conference and state tournament berths with the victories. They were tied for second place in the division behind Wall High School coming into the week, although a 3-1 loss to Ocean Township High School Oct. 10 dropped Middletown South out of the tie.
Middletown North comes off victories last week over Long Branch High School, 5-2, Oct. 5 and Ocean Township, 4-3, Oct. 7 to come into this week at 7-6.
Sophomore Kaleigh Harmon had her first hat trick of the season, including the game-winning goal with 10 minutes left, when Middletown North overcame an early 2-0 lead by Ocean Township. She has six goals.
Jenna Donohue, a senior, assisted the winning goal. Mackenzie Kernan, a junior, also scored a goal for Middletown North, while juniors Ava McGregor and Katie Gwiazdowski and Donohue had assists. Goalie Haley Martin, a sophomore, played the first half and made 10 saves, and senior Sophia Goos made nine saves in the second half.
Lindsay O’Keefge, a sophomore who leads the way with nine goals, scored two goals against Long Branch, while senior Jenna Reid, who has seven goals, McGregor and Donohue put in the others.
Middletown North already has surpassed the victory total of last year’s 6-12 team and is looking for its third straight trip to the state tournament and its first trip to the Shore Conference Tournament in six seasons.
“We have a lot of talented players and players that can play in multiple positions on the field. This gives us flexibility to make changes throughout the game and throughout the season,” Middletown North coach Trish Misciagna said. “We need to continue to play for each other. The girls work very hard for each other and motivate one another. When we possess the ball and attack as a team as well as defend as a team, we play very good soccer.”
Along with the Middletown South game, the Lions had a game at Monmouth Regional High School Oct. 11, return home against Freehold Township High School at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 and play at Manasquan High School Oct. 17.
Prior to its loss to Ocean Township, Middletown South was shut out in division contests against Monmouth Regional, 3-0, Wall, 1-0, and Red Bank Catholic High School, 2-0. They Eagles did, however, top Manasquan Oct. 3 by a 2-1 score and defeated Long Branch, 6-1, Oct. 7.
Mackenzie Kelly, the team captain who anchors and organizes the defense, is one of only four seniors on the roster, as young players figured in the recent victories. Christine Sundt, a junior, had a hat trick against Long Branch, while sophomores Emma Chuisano and Kelsey Naclerio and freshman Emma Laudisi scored the other goals. Junior goalkeeper Gabby Cook made 13 saves.
Laudisi scored both goals in the first half with assists from her freshman sister, Madyson, and freshman Gabrielle Smith. Sierra Ramos, a junior, made four saves in goal.
In between the two victories, Red Bank Catholic goalie Anthi Panayides turned away six shots while her teammates gave her a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Laudisi and Sundt each have six goals to lead the team.
The Eagles have upcoming games against St. John Vianney High School at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 and Monmouth Regional Oct. 17.