More offensive Colonials maintain winning ways
Freehold Borough off to 4-0 start in field hockey
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

Freehold Borough rode its defense and timely scoring to capture two consecutive Shore Conference B North Division field hockey titles.

This year's Colonial squad bears little resemblance to those teams, but the results have been the same: wins.

Freehold Borough is 4-0 through the first week of the season, and even head coach Jerry Acevedo is pleasantly surprised by the results.

"We're a little better than I thought we'd be," she said. "We have better speed. They've exceeded my expectations."

Acevedo expected her team to be competitive, but the team was breaking in a lot of sophomores in the lineup. The good news: many had seen action last year when Freehold Borough went 14-2-1, and they played a lot of field hockey in the offseason. That made them ready to step in and contribute in a big way this fall.

Seniors Amy Sharpe (forward), Jessica Lewis (midfield) and Leanne Maroney (defense) provide a strong foundation in the middle of the field from defense to offense.

Brittany McCormick (forward), Meghan Gibson (forward) and Karly Duven (midfield) are the much-improved sophomores, who are playing like anything but underclassmen. They are also responsible for the team being more explosive this year.

"We're all offense," noted Acevedo. "Last year, we were beating teams 1-0, this year we're seeing a lot of goals.

"The offense has kicked it up," she added. "We're playing small ball with our passing and breaking defenses down."

McCormick, Gibson and Sharpe have been wreaking havoc up front for defense. McCormick is a much-improved player, and Gibson is the fastest player on a speedy team, while Sharpe is a finisher.

This trio, however, hasn't had to do it alone.

"A lot of different people have scored for us, including our midfielders and defenders," she added.

The timing for this offensive prowess couldn't have come at a better time. The Colonials have no experience in the cage and have been alternating Allison Koch and Molly Picard. The play of the offense has taken a lot of the pressure off them.

Amy Wilson (midfield), Kelly Craig (midfield), Kristi Lynch (defender), Mia Alberro (defense), Sara Anderson (defense) and Lisa Tran (forward) are the important newcomers.

A 4-2 win over Manasquan, always one of the best teams in the Shore, in the second game of the season gave Acevedo a good idea of what kind of team she had this year.

"It was a nice test for us," she said.

The four goals scored against a top program were proof that the old 1-0 days were behind them. The Colonials trailed 2-1 at the half (Wilson had given them a 1-0 lead), but scored three unanswered tallies in the second half to pull the game out at home.

Gibson, who had assisted Wilson's goal, tied the match at 31:28, and three minutes later, Sharpe from Lewis gave Freehold Borough a 3-2 lead at 34:30. Sharpe, unassisted at 57:50, put in the insurance goal.

Against Long Branch, the Colonials showed they can play defense, scoring a 7-0 win. Picard collected the shutout as Duven and Gibson scored two goals each.

Freehold Township is expecting a big season itself in 2006. The Patriots are coming off their best season ever in 2005 having made the Shore Conference and state tournaments while going 10-6-1. The Patriots did graduate standouts like Nikki Battaglia and goalie Sara Wolf, but they do have a number of starters back. Among those are leading goal scorer Erica Kulp and center-midfielders Jenn Lazewski and Bridget Monahan. Allen Morgan (midfield), Kate DiGiacomo (defense) and Brittany Schram (forward) are the other returning starters who played a big role in the team's finest season. It's a very solid nucleus who learned how to win in 2005.

The newcomers this fall include Anna Kubrick (goal), MacKenzie Berry (midfield), Jessica Goldberg (forward) and Cole Callahan (midfield).

The Patriots are 2-0 to start the season. In the 6-2 win over Colts Neck, the Patriots showed just how much firepower they have and how balanced they are with five different scorers. Lazewski scored twice and the team got goals from Kulp, Goldberg, Brightman and Kozlowski. Kulp added a pair of assists.

Freehold Township followed the 6-2 win with a defensive 1-0 triumph over Manalapan. Lazewski, with an assist from Callahan, deposited the only goal of the game at 21:41 into the first half.

Kubrick stopped four shots and earned her first shutout.

Colts Neck will be looking to get back to the postseason after a 6-7 season in which coach Christine Cooper went with a youth movement. The Cougars hope to reap that reward in 2006.

Jessica Garcia (midfield), Amy Tripold (defense), Alli Mechanic (goalie), Cassie Knipfin (midfield), Ashley Mobbs (forward) and Sara Leder (midfield) are young players who played last year.

Newcomers include Michelle Brousell (forward), Victoria Buhl (forward), Jaine Carr (forward), Mia Lanzaro (defense), Dana Latrenta (defense), Rebecca McKenzie (defense), Jessica Petri (forward), Molly Petrie (midfield), Kelly Pickett (forward) and Michelle Romano (defense).

Howell has year-in and year-out fielded competitive teams, and the Rebels will be looking to continue that tradition and get into the playoffs this fall.

Brittany Napoli, Casey Warner, Kaylan Aucci, Nicole Payette and Amy Wuysick are the returners who Julie Hoebee will be building the team around.

Newcomers who should make an impact are Michelle Bonavito, Anne Lynch, Taylor Germaine, Diana Silva, Christine Lusch, Christy McCoy and Lauren Bogosian.

The newcomers have made their presence felt already. Goalie Silva picked up a shutout in the team's first game of the season, a 2-0 win over Manalapan.

Bonavito struck in the first half, and Lynch put it away with her second half goal. Howell is 1-1.

One thing that the Manalapan Braves know about this season is that goalie Danielle LaCugna is going to keep them in games. The junior has been outstanding in the cage for the Braves.

Coach Kelly Kearns played a lot of sophomores last year who are now experienced players. Liz Duffy (midfield), Cassandra Gregowicz (midfield), Allison Kaplan (forward), Ronnie Tutela (defense) and Marie Zeoli (forward) will team up with seniors Nicole Bonacci (midfield) and Sam Nuzio (defense) to form the foundation of the 2006 team. What the Braves will be looking for this year is to control midfield more and cash in on their opportunities to take advantage of LaCugna's play in goal.

Newcomers are Jenna Stone (defense), Randi Horowitz (forward), Amanda Pizzimenti (defense), Maria Saverino (midfield) and Dana Fields (forward).