Sports
Warriors Girls Soccer Looking for Similar Results [Video]
Watchung Hills has a new coach and a graduated superstar, as the Warriors focus on defending their championships.
The weather is starting to cool down, and that means fall sports are about to start for Watchung Hills Regional High School 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 Warriors girls soccer team.
OVERVIEW
There is plenty of dramatic change to go around as the Watchung Hills Regional High School girls soccer team seeks to defend its sectional and county titles.
The new look begins on the bench, where the Warriors will have a new head coach. Dan Root takes over for Pete Lubrecht, who departed after 12 years at the helm to become the athletics director at Roselle Park. Root coached the JV the past two seasons, and was the head coach of the Warriors boys soccer team from 1997-2003, leading them to the 1998 Somerset County title.
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On the field, the Warriors will look to overcome the graduation of All-State center-mid Daphne Corboz, who is the program’s all-time leading scorer. Senior Monique Goncalves will step in to Corboz’s role in the central midfield, as Watchung Hills looks to maintain its offensive prowess. Sam DePinho, Amanda Marques and Remy Berinsky will also be key in the midfield,while Jess Soldiviero and Jess Heifetz begin the season at forward.
But for all the changes, Watchung Hills also has the advantage of stability in a key spot, as its entire defensive unit returns in front of second-year keeper Alicia Maziarz, a senior, who will be backed up by
sophomore Meghan Kovac. Senior Amy Park returns at sweeper, joined by senior stopper Sam Harvitt, and junior Geanna Donnelly and sophomore Gabby Pagkalinawan on the outside.
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Sophomore Alyssa Bonnesen, who transferred from Mount St. Mary, is expected to contribute after sitting out her mandated 30 days, while sophomore Melissa George should also give the Warriors production and versatility off the bench.
LAST SEASON'S RESULTS
The Warriors enjoyed their finest season in program history, as they posted a 16-3-4 record, captured the Somerset County Tournament title with a thrilling overtime victory over juggernaut Pingry, and won the NJSIAA North 2 Group IV crown.
KEEP YOUR EYE ON
Amy Park – The senior sweeper and co-captain leads a defensive unit that returns intact, coming off a season where the Warriors allowed just 1.3 goals per game and just one score in the state tournament.
Monique Goncalves – The center-midfielder begins her fourth varsity season, after the co-captain tallied 14 goals and eight assists a year ago. She will be looked toward to create and lead the offense.
Jess Heifetz and Jess Soldiviero – The junior tandem will start the season as twin strikers and will be looked toward to be the finishers up top. Soldiviero has already proven her mettle in big spots, as she scored the game-winner against Pingry in overtime of last season’s county tournament final, finishing a perfectly timed pass from Corboz to give the Warriors’ their first-ever county title.
THEY'LL MISS
Daphne Corboz – The program’s all-time leading scorer tallied 97 goals and 57 assists during her four-year varsity career, including 26 goals and 25 assists last season. Corboz is playing for Georgetown University this fall where she is pre-med.
Brittany Santos – The outside midfielder/forward wrapped up her outstanding career last season, after playing four varsity years at Watchung Hills.
Claudia Rowe – Rowe was a mainstay for Watchung Hills, providing stability and leadership in the midfield.
COACH'S TAKE
“I think the kids that were on the team last year feel they can have a good team, but they’re also aware that someone has to step up or they need to step up as a team to fill that void. We certainly have to find someone else to score, that’s for sure. There’s certainly some talent there, it’s just a question of whether if someone steps up and puts the ball in the net.” – Watchung Hills coach Dan Root on life
without Daphne Corboz
THEY SAID IT
“We were nervous because we didn’t know who our coach would be. But when we found out it would be Coach Root, we knew it would be okay. We still have talent left and were really looking forward to this year.” – senior co-captain Amy Park
2011 WATCHUNG HILLS GIRLS SOCCER TEAM ROSTER
No. Name Year 2 Melissa George Sophomore 3 Amanda Marques Freshman 4 Geanna Donnelly Junior 7 Rachel Baron Senior 8 Beth Bicknell Junior 9 Jessica Soldiviero Junior 10 Samantha DePinho Sophomore 11 Samantha Harvitt Senior 12 Jessica Heifetz Junior 13 Gabby Pagkalinawan Sophomore 14 Brianna Wu Sophomore 15 Monique Goncalves Senior 16 Alyssa Bonnesen Sophomore 17 Amy Park Senior 22 Rachel Marino Sophomore 31 Remy Borinsky Freshman GK Meghan Kovac Sophomore GK Alicia Maziarz SeniorVarsity schedule
Friday, Sep 9 3:45PM Franklin Watchung Hills Reg High School - Tozier Stadium (Rescheduled from 09-08-11) Saturday, Sep 10 1:00PM Away vs. Somerville Somerville High SchoolTuesday, Sep 13 4:00PM Scotch Plains-Fanwood Watchung Hills Reg High School - Varsity Baseball Field
Thursday, Sep 15 3:45PM Montgomery Watchung Hills Reg High School - Varsity Baseball Field
Tuesday, Sep 20 3:45PM Away vs. North Hunterdon North Hunterdon High School
Saturday, Sep 24 10:00AM Away vs. Ridge Ridge High School
Tuesday, Sep 27 3:45PM Bridgewater- Raritan Watchung Hills Reg High School - Varsity Baseball Field
Friday, Sep 30 3:45PM Away vs. Mount Saint Mary Academy Mount Saint Mary Academy
Tuesday, Oct 4 7:00PM Away vs. Hunterdon Central Regional Hunterdon Central High School
Thursday, Oct 6 3:45PM Away vs. Hillsborough Hillsborough
Tuesday, Oct 11 3:45PM Ridge Watchung Hills Reg High School - Tozier Stadium
Thursday, Oct 13 7:00PM Away vs. Bridgewater- Raritan Watchung Hills Reg High School
Friday, Oct 14 4:00PM Away vs. Union Union High School
Tuesday, Oct 18 3:45PM Hunterdon Central Regional Watchung Hills Reg High School - Varsity Baseball Field
Thursday, Oct 20 6:00PM Hillsborough Watchung Hills Reg High School - Tozier Stadium
Tuesday, Oct 25
3:45PM Away vs. Franklin Franklin
Wednesday, Oct 26 3:45PM Pingry Watchung Hills Reg High School - Tozier Stadium