BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — In the first meeting between the two schools earlier in the season, the Edison High School girls soccer team escaped with a 1-0 victory over top-ranked East Brunswick.
Last week, the two teams squared off again at Richard D. Lowenstein Soccer Complex in what would be another classic battle. In a physical contest that would see Edison’s key mid-fielder, Susie Zavistoski, removed from the field to stop a bleeding nose, the two sides played through two overtime periods to end in a 0-0 tie.
Now, as the regular season winds to a close, the Eagles are looking forward to a rematch with Middlesex County’s second-seeded Old Bridge Knights. The Knights handed the Eagles one of their two losses this year. The rematch will take place on the Monday in Old Bridge.
No longer the doormat of the Greater Middlesex Conference, the Lady Eagles are now a force to be reckoned with. With a record of 8-2-2, the Lady Eagles already have qualified for play in the state tournament for the second consecutive year.
Until Maria Leonow took over as head coach last season, it had been 20 years since Edison competed in the state tournament.
Senior captain Susie Zavistoski has spearheaded the recent success of the Lady Eagles. Leonow calls Zavistoski her hardest worker and rewards her with the responsibility of marking all of the leading scorers in the county.
"She leaves everything on the field," Leonow said. "She’s aggressive, she wins every head ball, and she has a fighting spirit. She finishes every game physically beaten up."
Although primarily anchoring the defense, Zavistoski has netted two goals this year.
Leading the Edison attack is freshman Ashley Cunha with six goals and one assist; sophomore Kayla Duncan with six goals and three assists, and senior Courtney Roarty with six goals and three assists.
"Roarty may be our most talented player," Leonow added. "She has excellent foot skills. Although I wouldn’t call her a fast runner, she handles the ball with speed and she possesses great technical ability. She’s a relentless attacker and can cross the ball with precision."
Kayla Duncan handles the middle of the field with Susie Zavistoski. What Duncan lacks in size, she makes up for in spirit. A small girl with lightning quick speed, Duncan is often leading the Edison attack with dribbles around defenders and a natural ability to distribute the ball. If the Lady Eagles are to avenge their loss to Old Bridge, Leonow knows it will be a team effort.
After the stalemate in East Brunswick, Leonow urged her Lady Eagles not to let down. For Leonow and the Lady Eagles, the real task is now getting under way.