Experienced Pats look to contend in A North
Girls are off to 4-0 start
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

ERIC SUCA staff Freehold Township's AlexMarino fires a shot at the Howell goal during her team's game against the rival Rebels on Friday in Freehold Township.

For the Freehold Township girls lacrosse team, this is the year for them to break out of the pack.

The Patriots lost only three starters (goalie and two defenders) from a team that was 10-7 last spring and made both the Shore Conference Tournament and state playoffs. Returning is a line of senior midfielders who have been starters since their sophomore season.

"We knew going in we had potential," said coach Nikki Hastings. "It's a matter of putting it all together.

"Our big goal is to win the conference [A North] and go further in the tournaments," she added.

Based on the early results, the Patriots have been putting it all together. They are off to a 4-0 start and stamped themselves along with Ocean Township, as the team to beat in the division. Could this be the year the Patriots go from contender to champion?

PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCA staff Above, Colts Neck's Steph Sparacio tries to break away from Brick's Melissa Koempel during the first half of Saturday's game in Colts Neck. At left, Howell's Kate Weinerger tries to break away from Freehold Township's Kristin Gaul during their game Friday in Freehold Township.

If they do, a large part of it will be due to its midfielders. Here, the Pats have talent and experience. Kate Weinberger, Marissa Devine, Jennah Conti and Jenna Impastato are all seniors who have been together on the same line for three years now, and it shows with how everything flows from there.

"They communicate well," said Hastings. "Our transition game is so much faster. They have a good grasp of where they are supposed to be."

Junior Adj Tepedino rounds out the unit that is the foundation of this year's squad.

The beneficiaries of the Patriots' transition game are their attack wings, who know how to finish off the scoring opportunities generated by the midfielders.

Junior Maddie Comfort and senior Laura Delguercio have been proficient scorers. Comfort netted five goals in a recent win over Manalapan.

The attack line has been given added firepower by the play of two freshmen, Alex Marino and Jennamarie Colicchia. Marino scored eight goals in her first three games and is seeing more and more playing time up front.

"Our offense is balanced," said Hastings. "We don't have one go-to girl. All [attack wings and midfielders] have scored goals. They're not afraid to dish it off to a teammate."

Weinberger is a fine example of that. In the Pats' 13-3 win over Howell Friday, she had five assists. Comfort had five goals and Marino had three.

Freehold Township did graduate two seniors from its defense; however, in senior Alyssa Delguercio, the Pats have a field general who makes the players around her better. Laura Leff and Tara Contegiacomo have fit in well with Delguercio.

"The defense is pretty solid," noted Hastings.

Goalie Erin Buchanan is another reason that the defense has been so solid. When Amy Winik graduated last year (she is playing at Notre Dame now), she left a huge void to fill. Hastings knew she wouldn't be getting another Winik in the cage, but Buchanan has given the Patriots far more than they ever expected. The goalie has gained the trust and confidence of her teammates, which is saying a lot considering this is the first time she has ever played goalie.

"Erin is doing a phenomenal job," said Hastings. "She trained for this in the summer."

Christina Nunez, Howell's first-year coach, would like her Rebels to be one of the A North contenders.

A quick look at the eight returners from last year tells you the Rebels' strength - defense. Goalie Brianna Scolaro is back, along with defenders Katie Tedesco, Lindsay Smith, Kristin Gaul, Nicole Payette and Kayla Auci.

Stephanie Regina (midfield), Jessalyn Lambert (halfback) and Kaitlyn Brown (halfback), the other returners, are the corps of the offense. Newcomer Stacey Maraldo is being looked to to provide offense at the attack wing.

Other newcomers, Jackie Rucci and Lauren Bogosian, add depth to the defense.

To have a successful season, Nunez said, the Rebels must work together. The weather has limited Howell to just two matches and they are 0-2 after falling to Freehold Township. Regina, Rucci and Brown were the goal scorers for the Rebels.

At Colts Neck, Kelly Grady also has a large contingent of returners, which the Cougars hope will make them one of the teams to beat in A North.

Aurelie Plujmakers, Whitney Deedmeyer, Kim Campfield, Jessica Garcia and Lauren Orenzow are proven scores. Newcomer Rebecca Geller is anchoring the defense in goal. In front of Geller, the Hawks have returning defenders Gabrielle Haden, Sam Shaw and Clarissa Mulligan.

Colts Neck is off to a 1-3 start.

Marlboro is looking to make an impact in the division this year, and coach William Daley has a lot of veterans returning from last season's 5-9-1 team.

With Kerissa Einker, Chelsea Buttacavoli, Nisha Nadkar, Noelle Ciumei, Lindsay Dolashewich and Lauren Kirsch, the Mustangs have plenty of offense.

Lauren Panfile and Paula Shulman, both veterans, are the goalies.

Erika Yaroni, Sabrina Piotrowski, Anisha Alturi and Gaby Epstein are the upperclassmen returning on defense.

This team has a lot of experience and could be ready to make a run at .500. The Mustangs are off to a 1-2 start.

Manalapan (0-2) is a young squad, having graduated eight seniors. Nicole Bonacci and Kellie Ross are the team's marquee returners. Liz Duffy, Courtney Farruggia, Michelle Christie and Jenna Grandner also started in 2006.