After the most unusual season in high school girls soccer ever, the 14 schools in the Colonial Valley Conference are thrilled to be back on the pitch with a normal schedule of games on tap.
The 2021 campaign kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, highlighted by a matchup between Hopewell Valley and Allentown that pits two of the league’s best teams against each other.
“We have a strong core of players back from last year,” said veteran Bulldogs coach John McGinley, whose team went 12-1 and captured a regional title last fall. “The girls have had a great preseason. We have to get better all season (both) individually and as a unit.”
The CVC is once again back in two divisions of seven teams each — the Colonial and Valley — after foregoing the format during the shortened 2020 campaign. Steinert and Allentown have swapped divisions, the Spartans heading to the Colonial and the Redbirds to the Valley.
Division champions will be determined using the 3-2-1 points format (three points for a division win, two for a cross-division win, one for any tie).
So, while you can’t win a division on opening day, a victory over your biggest rival could go a long way toward raising a banner at the end of the season.
“We have a brand new goalkeeper and back line due to graduation,” said Allentown coach Kim Maurer, whose team returns just three starters after going 10-3-1. “Having our back line and goalkeeper stepping up in big games will be a big factor throughout the season.”
Robbinsville, Lawrence, Ewing, Hamilton and Nottingham round out the Valley Division. The Ravens, under reigning CVC Coach of the Year Caitlyn Curran, went 9-3-1 and won a regional crown last season.
“We definitely have some big shoes to fill with seniors who have graduated, but we have great young talent on this team,” Curran said. “Although we were super successful last season, every season is a new combination of girls on the field, but there’s no doubt these girls will find a way to ‘think with one brain.'”
Lawrence has to replace over 95% of its goals from last season, while Nottingham begins life after three-time CVC Player of the Year Gia Girman.
The Colonial Division appears more wide open, with Notre Dame, Princeton and Steinert all looking like they could win it.
The Irish, under first-year coach Lauren Diaz, have the most returning experience with 12 seniors.
“We expect that experience and leadership to transcend onto the field to help us develop team chemistry but also provide us a lot of depth,” Diaz said. “In order for our team to be successful, it will be an entire team effort to buy in and have confidence when we step on the field.”
Princeton’s returning big three combined for 27 goals last season and Steinert is one of the toughest teams to play against year in and year out.
“We are a young team with only four seniors,” Spartans coach MikeHastings said. “With that being said, the leadership of those girls will be very important to the progression of this team.”
Both of the West Windsor programs are back after the district opted out of sports last fall. There’s a bit of mystery surrounding both programs given the time away.
“Having last year canceled was a real blow, not only to the seniors, but now to the underclassmen that lost a year of development,” North coach James Moore said. “We will be looking to build on six wins from two years ago, but it will be tough in a loaded CVC.”
“Many of our athletes will experience the varsity level for the first time,” first-year South coach Elisa Mastroianni said. “Even though their varsity experience is limited, we have a close-knit group whose culture is facilitated by our seniors and captains). To have a successful season, we need to make up for lost time by learning and adjusting quickly after making mistakes.”
Hightstown and Trenton are also in the Colonial Division mix.
COLONIAL DIVISION
Hightstown
Coach: Samantha Biondi
Last season: 4-9
Roster: Teresa Allison (Sr.), Jill Patricolo (Sr.), Anna Mrvica (Sr.), Julianna Santoro (Sr.), Karly McKenna (Sr.), Julia McDaid (Sr.), Tiana Chew-Thomas (Sr.), Emilia Vallejos Briones (Sr.), Sydney Ragland (Jr.), Becca LeChard (Jr.), Hannah Woodward (Jr.), Camila Solares (Jr.), Meredith Hoeflinger (Jr.), Charlotte Garcia (So.), Allie Szelag (So.), Rachael Charsky (So.), Abby Shwom (So.), Angleina Benitez (So.), Gabby DeMarco (Fr.).
Outlook: The Rams have been in the middle of the CVC pack for the last handful of years, but they are in the more open of the two divisions and have a talented sophomore class led by Charlotte Garcia. She scored a team-high six goals in her rookie campaign and with a regular schedule should hit double digits. Senior Teresa Allison is a four-year starter who anchors the back line and Becca LeChard is the primary playmaker in the midfield.
Notre Dame
Coach: Lauren Diaz
Last season: 5-3
Roster: Hope Aita (Sr.), Adrienne Allison (Sr.), Jessica Benattar (Sr.), Olivia Bodmer (Sr.), Devin DeMarco (Sr.), Jillian Giori (Sr.), Ella Marie Grace (Sr.), Mary Heuisler (Sr.), Grace Jakim (Sr.), Megan McCauley (Sr.), Hannah Smith (Sr.), Giovanna Young (Sr.), Ryan Carr (Jr.), Julianna Lynch (Jr.), Megan Reuter (Jr.), Cameron Beetel (So.), Brynn Fitzpatrick (So.), Emily Javick (So.), Magdelena Madjor (So.), Hannah Neville (So.), Isabella Lynch (Fr.)
Outlook: Diaz inherits an experienced roster with 15 returning players and 12 seniors. The Irish are certainly capable of beating anybody in the league – they were the only team to defeat Hopewell Valley last season – but they’ll need those kind of performances on a more consistent basis. Senior goalkeeper Olivia Bodmer, a Rutgers commit, is the undisputed No. 1 this season and gives ND an edge in close games. Look for senior Grace Jakim and sophomores Emily Javick and Hannah Smith to get the goals.
Princeton
Coach: Dave Kosa
Last season: 9-3-1
Roster: Moji Ayodele (Sr.), Naomi Bazar (Sr.), Sophia Lis (Sr.), Annie Kosa (Sr.), Megan Rougas (Sr.), Sofia Mauger (Jr.), Hilary Chessler (Jr.), Lucia Salvato (Jr.), Julia Tharney (Jr.), Rowan Gilmore (Jr.), Alysse Kiesewetter (So.), Holly Howes (So.), Casey Serxner (So.,) Brielle Moran (So.), Ava Tabeart (Fr.), Marina Zaldarriaga (Fr.), Annabella Weidmann (Fr.).
Outlook: Kosa takes over after Val Rodriguez finished up a very successful run in charge. He has arguably the best front three in the CVC led by senior Lehigh commit Sophia Lis (13 goals, five assists), senior Megan Rougas (eight goals) and sophomore Casey Serxner (six goals, six assists). The question for PHS is what’s behind them. If the Tigers can be solid defensively, they can win a division title.
Steinert
Coach: Mike Hastings
Last season: 3-3-5; Central West B semifinalist
Roster: Kailey Connor (Sr.), Gemma Goldenbaum (Sr.), Sam Marusky (Sr.), Alexandria Petrullo (Sr.), Aleesia Amato (Jr.), Savina Carabelli (Jr.), Jillian Jones (Jr.), Carley Krajscovics (Jr.), Adriana Ryder (Jr.), Juliana Ryder (Jr.), Olivia Simone (Jr.), Arielle Warringer (Jr.), Emily Hardiman (So.), Lauren Hardiman (So.), Alyssa Hendricksen (So.), Brenna Riddell (So.), Brooke Sinay (So.), Arianna Vasquez (So.), Teagan Fairfax (Fr.), Mia Garafolo (Fr.), Nadia Gray (Fr.), Reilly Klein (Fr.), Jasmin Ortega (Fr.), Mia Tramo (Fr.).
Outlook: Perhaps nobody is happier to see some normalcy than Hastings, whose Spartans tied five of their 11 games during the abbreviated 2020 campaign. There are only four seniors on this year’s roster, but one of them is first team All-CVC goalkeeper Gemma Goldenbaum, while winger Kailey Conner (two goals, four assists) could be in line for a breakout season. Keep an eye on the Ryder twins – Adriana and Juliana – who combined for eight goals last season.
Trenton
Coach: Anthony Carsella
Last season: 0-7
Roster: Sarah Stockton (Sr.), Alexzia Figueroa (Sr.), Keily Montezuma (Sr.), Keily Lopez (Sr.), Yosselin Orozco (Sr.), Gueurid Lopez (Jr.), Rukiyat Daranijo (Jr.), Kimberly Acevedo (Jr.), Ashley Cardona (Jr.), Katie Vega (Jr.), Sy’Rai Jenkins (So.), Marilyn Castillo (So.), Andrea Aguirre (So.), Gabriella Smith (Fr.).
Outlook: Carsella is one of the real good guys in Mercer County girls soccer and it’s great that he’s able to schedule non-league games again, which give his Tornadoes a chance to play competitive games. Depth is always an issue at Trenton, and while this season will be no different, experienced campaigners like Keily Montezuma and Yosselin Orozco are ones to watch.
West Windsor North
Coach: James Moore
Last season: Did not play
Roster: Julianne Russell (Sr.), Lilian Zullow (Sr.), Saachi Misra (Sr.), Ellie Byrne (Sr.), Aimee Byrne (Sr.), Maya Anico (Jr.), Aditi Singh (Jr.), Emily Potenza (Jr.), Sophia Jacome (Jr.), Lily Giasi (So.), Samantha Pelosi (So.), Trisha Nakka (So.), Maseera Ahmad (So.), Tia Narula (Fr.), Hana Mahmutbegovic (Fr.), Molly Resnick (Fr.), Julia Kolker (Fr.), Mia Sgra (Fr.), Saamvi Kumar (Fr.).
Outlook: The Knights didn’t play last season after the school district opted out of the fall season, which makes them somewhat of an unknown. They did win six games in 2019 in Moore’s first season, and he’s hoping some of the players who were on that team can improve upon that number. Juniors Aditi Singh (seven goals in 2019) and Emily Potenza (a box-to-box midfielder) were key starters as ninth graders on that ’19 team and will be hungry to make up for the lost year.
West Windsor South
Coach: Elisa Mastroianni
Last season: Did not play
Roster: Jasmine Akman (Sr.), Jaidyn Hines (Sr.), Lauren Morabito (Sr.), Mary Nielsen (Sr.), Loren Pulido (Sr.), Vidhi Sapru (Sr.), Fizza Zhera (Sr.), Paige Agnese (Jr.), Alexis Contes (Jr.), Lauren Donnelly (Jr.), Tara Konzelmann (Jr.), Aditi Negi (Jr.), Diya Patil (Jr.), Sangeeta Quddus (Jr.), Jianna Rima (Jr.), Misha Sachdeva (Jr.), Isabella Sughrue (Jr.), Emma Yanagi (Jr.), Priya Zalavadia (Jr.), Ishita Balpande (So.), Hannah Fang (So.).
Outlook: You almost have to look at South as a brand new program given Mastroianni is in her first season and the team didn’t play last season after the district opted out of fall sports. The Pirates have a large junior class, and Mastroianni pointed to Alexis Contes as a player to watch from that group. The senior captains – Jaidyn Hines, Lauren Morabito and Mary Nielsen – all have varsity experience.
VALLEY DIVISION
Allentown
Coach: Kim Maurer
Last season: 10-3-1; Central East D semifinalist
Roster: Ari Bruno (Sr.), Camryn Beltran (Sr.), Caroline Gensigner (Sr.), Christina Golden (Sr.), Emme Maglione (Sr.), Haley Williams (Sr.), Kaylie Repko (Sr.), Sam Dimicelli (Sr.), Alex Farina (Jr.), Fallon Mazza (Jr.), Gabby Scotto (Jr.), Georgia Cross (Jr.), Natalie Merkel (Jr.), Noelle Rivera (Jr.), Norah Mosely (Jr.), Ryan Keefe (Jr.), Bella Conti (So.), Lindsey Hines (So.), Sammy Allen (So.), Sonia Vohra (So.), Isabella Knott (Fr.), Jadelyn Sayrafe (Fr.), Martha Olorunnisola (Fr.).
Outlook: With eight new starters, the Redbirds may need some time to figure each other out, but given Maurer’s track record, there’s no doubt they’ll be playing their best soccer at the end of the season. Emme Maglione is the most experience returning starters, while sophomores Bella Conti (14 goals, four assists) and Lindsey Hines (three goals, three assists) are primed for breakout seasons. Senior Christina Golden, a first team All-CVC defender and Richmond commit, is out injured.
Ewing
Coach: Shannon Pedersen
Last season: 1-11
Roster: Samaria Banks (Sr.), Bella Latini (Sr.), Helen Ogungbola (Sr.), Lanie Picerno (Sr.), Thalia Hearns (Jr.), Sierra Mitchell (Jr.), Jacqueline Ordonez (Jr.), Hazel Penner (Jr.), Sydney Smith (Jr.), Sarah Ashenfelter (So.), Shawnee Biggs (So.), Natalia Andreas (Fr.), Emily Gamboa Ordini (Fr.), Sydney Gonzalez (Fr.), Landen Jovolos (Fr.), Emma MacDuff (Fr.), Clare Morrison (Fr.), Maggie Morrison (Fr.), Samantha Noble (Fr.), Olivia Picerno (Fr.).
Outlook: Pedersen’s Blue Devils enter the season with nine ninth-graders on the roster, meaning the young players will quickly get varsity experience. Speedy junior Syndey Smith is the key attacking player, while junior Hazel Penner is the backbone of the defense. After just one victory in the shortened 2020 campaign, the Blue Devils will be looking to improve on that.
Hamilton West
Coach: Staci Preistley
Last season: 0-5
Roster: Nadeen Abdel-Gleil (Sr.), Amanda Dennis (Sr.), Mikayla Hall (Sr.), Aisha Sanchez (Sr.), Andrea Alvarez (Jr.), Maya Jimenez (Jr.), Geri Nicole Angeles (So.), Morgan Bressler (So.), Isabella Celentano (So.), Danielle Deane (So.), Madison Harrison (So.), Makenna Mellick (So.), Rahcel Nixon (So.), Hannah Slimak (So.), Mia Bartholomew (Fr.), Isabella Conte (Fr.), Ava Riley (Fr.).
Outlook: The Hornets lost 11 varsity players from last season’s roster, so Priestley knows this will be about getting a young group experience. She has a solid building blocks in sophomores Morgan Bressler (three goals in five games) and sweeper Rachel Nixon. The pacey Mikayla Hall up top also gives defensives something to think about.
Hopewell Valley
Coach: John McGinley
Last season: 12-1; Central West B champion
Roster: Sylvia Hementez (Sr.), Emily Chess (Sr.), Kate Tillman (Sr.), Nicola Mosionek (Sr.), Diana Benford (Sr.), Lara Paoloni (Sr.), Mea Allex (Sr.), Beth Hooks (Sr.), Sarah Yancey (Sr.), Lucy Fleming (Jr.), Cailiegh Ross (Jr.), Ava D’Alessandro (Jr.), Emma Coyer (Jr.), Addie Sullivan (Jr.), Katie Yancey (Jr.), Emmie Muller (Jr.), Andie Cappucci (Jr.), Faith Doldy (Jr.), Christiana Zelin (Jr.), Mae Fesmire (Jr.), Madelyn Patterson (So.), Maura McGrath (So.), Julianna Somers (So.), Kennedy Havens (So.), Charlotte Barnes (Fr.).
Outlook: The Bulldogs have long been the class of the CVC and this season should be no different. McGinley’s side returns First Team All-CVC forward Nicola Mosionek (14 goals, four assists) and center back Mea Allex. They also rarely concede goals – goalkeeper Lucy Fleming kept a cleansheet in 10 of the team’s 13 games last season – and are always the best at scoring them from set pieces. Two-way midfielder Lara Paoloni could be in for a standout season as could winger Sarah Yancey (three goals, four assists).
Lawrence
Coach: Emily Palombo
Last season: 5-4-1
Roster: Katie Ciuffreda (Sr.), Sophia Denarski (Sr.), MacKenzie Esposito (Sr.), Emily Franceschini (Sr.), Elsa Fura (Sr.), Bella Garcia (Sr.), Olivia Whitaker (Sr.), Ava Andrew (Jr.), Grace Dowd (Jr.), Minerva Dillon (Jr.), Jessie Everman (Jr.), Ailish Humphreys (Jr.), Jasmin Jordan (Jr.), Gillian Kibbey (Jr.), Gwyneth Moore (Jr.), Sarah Alankara (So.), Brielle Citron (So.), Jasmine Eccles (So.), Hayley Jodoin (So.), Kendall Jodoin (So.), Mia Turco (So.), Liliana Calderone (Fr.), Michaela Little (Fr.).
Outlook: Only one player who scored a goal last season – senior Sophia Denarski — will be on the field for the Cardinals this go round, so they’ll need to find some offensive punch to stay with the top half of the CVC. Lawrence has a strong junior class led by ball-winning midfielder Jessie Everman and defender Gillian Kibbey. Look for the Cards to improve as the season goes on.
Nottingham
Coach: Christie Paglione
Last season: 3-7-1
Roster: Violet Donahue (Sr.), Nicole Filipowicz (Sr.), Maddie Perez (Sr.), Abby Santizo (Sr.), Sydney Auletta (Jr.), Samia Quizphi (Jr.), Katie Annese (So.), Sienna Davis (So.), Raffaella Lettieri (So.), Brooklyn Samonski (So.), Alissa Tomlin (So.), Ciara Ash (Fr.), Bridget Cutty (Fr.), Jaylene Diaz (Fr.), Emma Wilke (Fr.), Kaitlin Wilke (Fr.).
Outlook: Life after Gia starts now for the Northstars, and this very much looks like a rebuilding year with a chance to get younger players varsity experience. Seniors Nicole Filipowicz and Violet Donahue are veteran campaigners at this level and sophomore Brooklyn Samonski (four goals, three assists) flashed the potential to put the ball in the goal.
Robbinsville
Coach: Caitlyn Curran
Last season: 9-3-1; Central West A champion
Roster: Allie Neumann (Sr.), Aleca Fotiou (Sr.), Emma Horan (Sr.), Sophie Berman (Sr.), Rachel Yap (Sr.), Abigayle Wawryk (Sr.), Victoria Maldonado (Sr.), Vanessa Sabol (Sr.), Yianna Mazzella (Sr.), Kara Keating (Jr.), Sophia Aquilino (Jr.), Mackenzie Firth (Jr.), Ava Rossi (Jr.), Lucy Shea (Jr.), Rachael Godrey (Jr.), Lizzie Andrus (So.), Perri Gonser (So.), Morgan Gonser (Fr.), Stella Cerniglia (Fr.), Sofia DiMeola (Fr.).
Outlook: The Ravens had a fantastic 2020 campaign as Curran, the reigning CVC Coach of the Year, guided them to nine wins and regional title. Back is Washington & Lee commit Sophie Berman, a senior, who is the top returning scorer in the CVC after she got 15 goals a season ago. Senior Aleca Fotiou is an excellent playmaker and classmates Emma Horan and Victoria Maldonado make up a strong defensive unit. One thing to keep an eye on: the Ravens are in Central Jersey Group III now, having been bumped up from Group II.
