Pats master comeback en route to playoffs
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

The mantra of the Freehold Township girls lacrosse team in 2006 was "one team, one goal."

"We didn't know it would mean one-goal games," said coach Nikki Hastings.

The Patriots proved to be the masters of the one-goal game this spring, winning more than their share en route to a 10-7 campaign that included trips to the Shore Conference and NJSIAA tournaments.

If there was an reoccurring theme for the team, it was its penchant for the comeback.

"We were used to being down at halftime," said Hastings. "It's amazing how it all worked together.

"When we needed to make a goal, we did. When we needed to make a stop on defense, we did," she added.

That led to the Patriots exceeding expectations, while building a solid foundation for the future.

"When the season started, I wasn't sure how we'd match up," said Hastings. "We lost a lot of good girls from last year."

What Hastings did know was that she had a rock solid defense, anchored by senior goalie Amy Winik, who had already earned a scholarship to the University of Notre Dame. She spent the season showing the Shore why the Fighting Irish were so interested in her. She the best save percentage in the Shore, 66.0.

In front of Winik were veterans Angela DeSanctis and Angelica Gero, both seniors.

"Amy had a huge year," said Hastings. "We always had confidence in the three [Winik, DeSanctis and Gero] of them on defense."

The biggest concern for Hastings was on the attack upfield, that's where the Patriots lost the most to graduation. Erin Buchanan was the only returning starter. The graduating seniors would be replaced by underclassmen.

It was a freshman, Maddy Comfort, who made the biggest impact. She is a pure finisher who knows how to score, and that was just what the Patriots needed. They had the midfielders who can create, but lacked some one who could finish.

With Comfort providing that up front, the Patriot offense suddenly had balance.

"We were able to spread it out on offense," said Hastings. "There was not one girl we were looking to for scoring."

The balance allowed midfielders Jenna Impastato, Jennah Conti, Kaitlyn Weinberger and Alyssa Delguercio to put up big numbers this year.

Impastato, a junior, had 32 goals and 17 assists, while Conti had 31 goals and nine goals, and Weinberger had 13 goals and led the team in assists with 21.

Marissa Devine would have put up numbers close to those, but a broken foot sidelined her for a few games.

"They [midfielders] needed to step up, and they did," said Hastings.

The Patriots season ended on May 20 with a 10-7 loss to South Brunswick in the first round of the NJSIAA South A sectional on the road.

Comfort deposited three goals in her state playoff debut and Devine (back from her foot injury) had two. Delguercio and Adj Tepedino each had one. Devine added two assists.

The good news for the Patriots is that everyone of these offensive players will be returning next spring, and more to the point, they are dedicated players. They participated in the winter lacrosse league at the Peddie School and will be playing this summer in the high school league in Sea Girt.

"They're a family," noted Hastings. "They're super girls who want to play lacrosse. It's their No. 1 sport."

With Winik having earned a scholarship to Notre Dame, the Patriots know that the opportunity for a future in college is there.