Schools
Girls Soccer Team Looks to Continue Successes
Despite the loss of eight starters, Bridgewater-Raritan vies for another shot at a sectional title.
The weather is starting to cool down, and that means fall sports are about to start for varsity squads. As opening day approaches, we're taking a look at each of the teams as they ready for competition. Today, we take a look at the Panthers girls soccer team.
OVERVIEW
After a 17-win season and a trip to the sectional final, the Bridgewater-Raritan High School girls soccer team will be an overall inexperienced bunch in 2011, as the Panthers look to overcome the loss of 12 layers—including eight starters—to graduation. But that’s not to say Bridgewater-Raritan won’t be focused on maintaining the excellence it has consistently achieved for well over a decade.
As usual, the Panthers’ focus will be on maintaining the defensive dominance it’s always enjoyed, while looking for a way to spark an offense that has had trouble finishing at times in recent seasons.
Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Bridgewater-Raritan will employ a 4-5-1 alignment to start the year, featuring a flat back four and a triangle in the central midfield, as the Panthers look to increase its creation of chances, especially outside the 18.
Junior Dana Lytle and senior Christine Tress will open the season as Bridgewater-Raritan's top two striking options up top, while junior Erin Sullivan, senior Kim Kornbluth and sophomore Lauren Hall—all returnees—handle center-mid duties and will work together to try and create offense and control the middle of the field. Junior Brianna Petro and senior Kelly Merten will start the season in the outside midfield.
Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Defensively, seniors Tina Colatriano and Samantha Avignone will handle the outside, while senior Caroline Survill anchors the middle along with sophomore Daniella Greco, junior Erin Scott and junior Olivia DiIorio.
Sophomore Casey Murphy will start in net, with first-year varsity senior Megan Lynch backing her up.
LAST SEASON'S RESULTS
The Panthers enjoyed its finest season since going to the state Group IV final in 2007, posting a 17-4 mark and advancing to the final of the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV Tournament. Bridgewater-Raritan finished second to juggernaut Pingry in the Skyland Conference Delaware Division.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Caroline Survill—The senior co-captain commands the defense and makes sure everyone is in the right place. Survill also lends some versatility, as she can also play center-mid.
Casey Murphy—After fading from a platoon to a backup role last season, the keeper has returned motivated and focused and has impressed the Panthers coaching staff with her vocal leadership on the field, despite being only a sophomore.
Erin Sullivan—Bridgewater-Raritan’s most dangerous offensive threat from the midfield, coach Kelliann Ten Kate said she is most impressed with Sullivan’s power and ability to take shots from well beyond the 18, which she hopes can create other chances.
THEY'LL MISS
Jessica Bonjione—The Panthers defensive anchor last season, Bonjoine returned after missing her junior year with a torn ACL to lead the unit that allowed just 15 goals in 21 games, including 13 shutouts.
Melanie Greco—Greco led the Panthers with 11 goals last season, nearly doubling her career mark of 14 she tallied during her first two varsity campaigns.
Morgan Patullo—The keeper emerged as the starter down the stretch last season and allowed just two goals during the first three games of the state tournament.
COACH'S TAKE
“I think the way that they connect and with their attitudes they definitely can [succeed]. There’s not as much drama this year and they seem to work really well together. So if they continue to do that and stay positive, I think we can either do the same, if not better.”— Panthers coach Kelliann Ten Kate on her team’s chemistry and its chances of matching or surpassing last year’s successes.
THEY SAID IT
“We definitely need to work on the offense and finishing. If we can do that, we’ll be an amazing team.”—Panthers senior co-captain Caroline Survill on the team's quest to improve its goal totals.
"This year’s definitely going to be hard, but we’ve all been working really hard this whole preseason, so we’re pretty much ready to go out there and play our best and hardest.”—Bridgewater-Raritan senior co-captain Tina Colatriano on the Panthers’ focus entering the 2011 season
2011 BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN GIRLS SOCCER TEAM ROSTER
No. Name Year Position 2 Rachel Truska Sophomore Midfield 3 Brianna Petro Junior Midfield 4 Samantha Avignone Senior Defense 5 Erin Scott Junior Defense 6 Kimberly Kornbluth Senior Midfield 7 Lauren Hall Sophomore Midfield 8 Megan Lynch Senior Goalkeeper 9 Allison Morgan Sophomore Midfield 10 Dana Lytle Junior Forward 11 Erin Sullivan Junior Midfield 12 Caroline Survill (Captain) Senior Defense 14 Nikki Chu Junior Defense 15 Emily Szeflinski Sophomore Midfield 16 Jennifer Wolin Junior Defense 17 Kelly Merten Senior Midfield 18 Colleen Kinsey Senior Midfield 19 Tina Colatriano (Captain) Senior Defense 20 Christine Tress Senior Forward 21 Danielle Greco Sophomore Defense 22 Olivia DiIorio Junior Defense 24 Emily Lu Junior Defense 25 Casey Murphy Sophomore Goalkeeper
*Bridgewater Patch is previewing the biggest sports as the seasons begin the end of this week. Here's what we got in previews coming up this week:
Friday—The first big game of the season is Friday, and we start off the day with a preview of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School football team.
In case you missed it:
Tuesday—We looked at the ’s goal to improve its record this year.
Wednesday—We previewed the boys soccer team with its fairly new team following the loss of many graduating seniors.
