There’s a reason the Freehold Township High School girls lacrosse team has remained on top for so long.
“From year to year, the names change, some come and some go, but the quality of player and dedication to the program I get from each girl never changes,” head coach Brian Snedden said.
The Patriots head into the 2015 season where they’ve been the last eight years: the team to beat in the Shore Conference A North Division. The Patriots have several starters back from last spring’s 16-5 club that won the program’s eighth straight division title with a 9-1 division mark.
“The potential for this group is there to have the same success we have had in the past. The key to our season will be building chemistry among the new underclassmen and returning varsity players,” Snedden said.
Junior Victoria Camassa, who has made a verbal commitment to Villanova University, and sophomore Nicole Sasso are two big reasons to watch the Patriots.
Camassa scored 45 goals last year with five assists, and Sasso had 41 goals and 13 assists.
Camassa has already deposited 28 goals in the Patriots’ first five games, putting her among the state’s leaders.
The Patriots are loaded at midfield with seniors Jamie Weintraub and Jess Haddad also returning. Weintraub scored 13 goals in 2014. She and Haddad have combined for 13 goals, with Haddad ranking second on the team to Camassa with eight.
On attack, seniors Meg O’Malley and Sabrina Capriotti give the Patriots offense a lot of firepower. Defensively, senior Amanda Whittaker is the glue that holds it all together.
Newcomers who are giving the Patriots a boost include Kaela Chadziuko (junior, attack), Raegan Dunn (sophomore, midfield) and freshmen Cai Martin (defense), Michelle Pascrell (midfield) and Lindsey Smith (goalie). Chadziuko leads the Patriots in assists with 10.
Sophomore Giulia Mazzone is the backup goalie and has picked up a win as a starter.
With just five seniors, Freehold Township is young but still very capable.
“My expectation for the team is to continue at the same level that we have for the last eight years,” Snedden said. “I expect nothing but the best from the girls every time we walk on the field.”
The Patriots are 4-1, with their only loss coming at the hands of defending state power Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School. They are 3-0 in A North.
Freehold Township was scheduled to play Wall High School, last year’s division co-champion, April 10, but the game was postponed by rain. The game has been rescheduled for May 9. The teams play for the first time in Wall April 30.
The Patriots are scheduled to play Howell High School, which has been chasing Freehold Township the past few years, April 16 at home with the return in Howell on May 5.
Manalapan High School keeps closing the gap between itself and the division’s top teams. The Braves will host Freehold Township April 18 with the return game in Freehold Township May 8.