By Warren Rappleyea
Despite a three-game losing streak, Sayreville War Memorial High School’s girls’ soccer team enters the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament as the fifth seed and will play a first-round game at home Oct. 22.
The Bombers host the winner of a preliminary match between 12th-seeded Woodbridge High School and 21st-seeded Mother Seton Regional High School. Sayreville was scheduled to conclude its regular season Oct. 18 against South Brunswick High School.
Coach Jillian McGarry’s team is coming off a tough 2-1 loss to Old Bridge High School Oct. 17. The Knights, who earned the top seed in the GMC Tournament, scored a pair of first-half goals and held on to win. Jacqueline Ventricelle tallied for the Blue and Gray, which out-shot Old Bridge, 19-16.
McGarry said the game was a good test for her squad as it prepares for the GMC event. The Bombers had previously lost to Edison High School, 6-3, Oct. 14 in a game that got away in the opening half, when the Eagles scored six times. Edison had prevailed 3-2 in an earlier meeting.
“We have to keep our focus now that it’s tournament time,” said McGarry, whose team is 11-4 overall. “Throughout the season, we’ve used our depth to play a high-energy game, and we need to continue doing that.”
With a balanced front line, the Bombers have outscored opponents, 58-16, and three players have scored 10 or more goals. Freshman Eliza David leads the team in scoring with 12 goals and four assists. Midfielder Erin Wimmer has 11 goals and three assists, and sophomore striker Lauren Attardi has scored 10 times and contributed four assists.
Sayreville is also benefiting from the return of Ventricelle, who missed most of the season with an injury. Stephanie DeOcampo has five goals to go with six assists. Brianna Barbosa leads the team with 10 assists and has also scored three goals.
The Bombers are strong in the middle with Nicole Cena, Raven Wright, Tori Barreiro (two goals, three assists) and Jackie Jurkiewicz (two goals, six assists).
Central defender Katie Esposito anchors the back line. A strong two-way player, the senior has joined the offense from time to time, producing five goals and two assists. Taiya Lewis and Megan Furbush are dependable defenders in front of sophomore goalkeeper Jordan Wilson — the Bombers have kept a clean sheet seven times this fall.
“The girls need to stay positive now,” McGarry said. “We have a good team and they have played well all season. We have an opportunity to do well in the tournaments, and the girls have worked hard to get to this point.”
The Bombers have also qualified for the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group IV tournament. McGarry said seedings will be completed this week.