By Wayne Witkowski
Jackson Memorial High School’s girls’ soccer team is out of the running for the Shore Conference A South Division championship, where it sits firmly in second place behind Toms River High School North, which is unbeaten in the division entering.
But the Jaguars, who have come on strong at 10-4, are a solid threat for the Shore Conference Tournament that begins this week and the NJSIAA tournament next month.
Coming off a 1-0 loss to unbeaten Toms River North for its third defeat in A South, Jackson Memorial rebounded with three straight victories last week over Toms River High School East, 2-1, Oct. 10; Toms River High School South, 3-0, Oct. 11; and Central Regional High School, 2-1, Oct. 14.
Jackson Memorial has won eight of its last nine games after early-season injuries shackled the Jaguars in a slow start and new starters were getting accustomed to their teammates.
“We’re doing much better this year,” senior inside defender Cassie Collimore said in her second season as a starter. “We’re pushing up as a whole, not just the forwards and midfielders. The defense has been moving up the field. We’re jelling more than we did in the past.”
It shows in the stat lines, where Collimore leads the team with six assists. She also scored one of the goals in the second half when Jackson Memorial overcame Toms River East to begin its win streak. Lindsay Bathmann scored the other goal and senior goalkeeper Karyssa Niedt made 11 saves. Bathmann is among the team leaders with four goals and three assists.
The following day, Jackson Memorial beat Toms River South, as senior forward Alyssa Fernandez, junior midfielder Carissa Eckel and senior midfielder Bridget Sheeran scored. Collimore, Sheeran and sophomore Corryn Eckel had assists.
Like Collimore, Eckel bolsters the back line with junior Alexis Casella and sophomore Kaysie Lauro. Senior Kylee Sullivan made six saves in goal for the shutout.
The Jaguars ended the week with a victory over Central Regional. Fernandez, a forward, scored her team-leading 10th goal and senior midfielder Caitlyn Fogarty put in the other score. Collimore again had an assist along with freshman Natalie Knauf. Sullivan made six saves.
“We’re improving with each game,” Collimore said. “By the Shore Conference and state tournaments, we should be at our very best potential. We need to take advantage of opportunities from six yards out to 18. We have not finished as well.”
Jackson Memorial already has reached its cutoff for seeding for the state tournament and had games scheduled this week against Brick Township High School Oct. 17 and at Middletown High School South Oct. 19.