Sunday, May 23, 2004
Union (4-1)
The Scotch Plains U14 intercounty girls soccer team the “Wild Things” has constructed their own version of The Maginot Line and it appears far more secure than the one the French constructed. The “Wild Things” continued to refuse to allow a team to get closer than two goals as they routed the highly regarded Union Vipers 4-1, Sunday May 23 at Evergreen Field, Scotch Plains. Their record is now a perfect 5-0-0 with 48 of a possible 50 points attained and they have outscored their r opponents 20-2.
Continuing their pattern of opening half domination, the “Wild Things” led 2-0 on first half goals by Kaitlyn Denker and Alexus Jegede and extended to 3-0 five minutes into the second half on Rebecca Von Langen’s first goal of the year. Union cut the lead to two but that’s where the “Wild Things” drew the line and Union never crossed it. Whitney Adams, who assisted on Von Langen’s goal, brought the lead back to three with a hard high shot. Whitney’s sister, Lauryn saved a certain Union girl when she kicked a shot out of the Scotch Plains net and most of the second half was contested near the Union goal.
On a brutally warm and humid day, more appropriate for August, the “Wild Things” had struck within the first ten minutes of the game as Denker pounced on Krista Ciecura’s throw in and hit a high swerving shot into the right corner from about 25 yards. Although dominating, the “Wild Things” waited until the waning moments of the first half to extend their lead as Jegede converted from a scramble in front.
Allie Thek played the entire game in goal and was rarely tested as the defense combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Denker,Magan Mauro, Amanda Curcie and Kathleen Yan kept Union attacks to a minimum.
With the hot temperatures, the “Wild Things” were fortunate to have numerous talented
Midfielders to shuttle back and forth.
The midfield of Katelyn Cavanagh, Jillian Murphy, Whitney Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Ciecura, and Jaclyn Lazarus were effective advancing the ball. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Cassie Berwick, Danielle Sette and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the Union goal.
Continuing their pattern of opening half domination, the “Wild Things” led 2-0 on first half goals by Kaitlyn Denker and Alexus Jegede and extended to 3-0 five minutes into the second half on Rebecca Von Langen’s first goal of the year. Union cut the lead to two but that’s where the “Wild Things” drew the line and Union never crossed it. Whitney Adams, who assisted on Von Langen’s goal, brought the lead back to three with a hard high shot. Whitney’s sister, Lauryn saved a certain Union girl when she kicked a shot out of the Scotch Plains net and most of the second half was contested near the Union goal.
On a brutally warm and humid day, more appropriate for August, the “Wild Things” had struck within the first ten minutes of the game as Denker pounced on Krista Ciecura’s throw in and hit a high swerving shot into the right corner from about 25 yards. Although dominating, the “Wild Things” waited until the waning moments of the first half to extend their lead as Jegede converted from a scramble in front.
Allie Thek played the entire game in goal and was rarely tested as the defense combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Denker,Magan Mauro, Amanda Curcie and Kathleen Yan kept Union attacks to a minimum.
With the hot temperatures, the “Wild Things” were fortunate to have numerous talented
Midfielders to shuttle back and forth.
The midfield of Katelyn Cavanagh, Jillian Murphy, Whitney Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Ciecura, and Jaclyn Lazarus were effective advancing the ball. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Cassie Berwick, Danielle Sette and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the Union goal.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Red Hots
The Scotch Plains U14 intercounty girls soccer team the “Wild Things” used their familiar formula of heavy first half scoring and stingy defense to win the “Battle of Scotch Plains” against the Scotch Plains Red Hots on Saturday, May 15 at Evergreen Field Scotch Plains. In their 4-0 victory, which improved their record to 4-0, the “Wild Things” scored all their goals in the first half and have scored 14 of their 16 goals in the opening stanza while only allowing one goal all season and that was in the second half.
Jaclyn Lazarus provided the only scoring the winners would need when her indirect kick was deflected into the goal by a Red Hot defender. Alexus Jegede, who has scored in every game, quickly added to the lead with a fine shot into the corner off a scramble in front. Katelyn Cavanagh pounced on a loose ball 20 yards away and one-timed a hard low shot that the goalie was slow in reacting to because she was screened on the play. Whitney Adams completed the scoring when her hard spinning shot could not be held onto. It was the third straight game Adams has scored.
Although they had far the better of the chances, the Wild Things were unable to add to their advantage and concentrated on maintaining the shutout as both teams wilted in the second half in sweltering 85 degree weather. Cassie Berwick was the unsung hero as she
played goalie the entire first half and had to replace Lazarus in goal when she hurt her wrist stopping a hard shot. early in the second half.
The defensive combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Kaitlyn Denker, Amanda Curcie and Kathleen Yan was effective in keeping attacks to a minimum. Denker was ubiquitous with her powerful long-range clearing kicks that nearly resulted in goals.
The midfield of Cavanagh, Jillian Murphy, Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Magan Mauro were effective advancing the ball. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Danielle Sette and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the goal.
The “Wild Things” added a fifth victory on Sunday when Clark was unable to provide a playable field. The forfeit victory gives the “Wild Things” 49 of a possible 50 points going into the second half of the season.
Jaclyn Lazarus provided the only scoring the winners would need when her indirect kick was deflected into the goal by a Red Hot defender. Alexus Jegede, who has scored in every game, quickly added to the lead with a fine shot into the corner off a scramble in front. Katelyn Cavanagh pounced on a loose ball 20 yards away and one-timed a hard low shot that the goalie was slow in reacting to because she was screened on the play. Whitney Adams completed the scoring when her hard spinning shot could not be held onto. It was the third straight game Adams has scored.
Although they had far the better of the chances, the Wild Things were unable to add to their advantage and concentrated on maintaining the shutout as both teams wilted in the second half in sweltering 85 degree weather. Cassie Berwick was the unsung hero as she
played goalie the entire first half and had to replace Lazarus in goal when she hurt her wrist stopping a hard shot. early in the second half.
The defensive combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Kaitlyn Denker, Amanda Curcie and Kathleen Yan was effective in keeping attacks to a minimum. Denker was ubiquitous with her powerful long-range clearing kicks that nearly resulted in goals.
The midfield of Cavanagh, Jillian Murphy, Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Magan Mauro were effective advancing the ball. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Danielle Sette and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the goal.
The “Wild Things” added a fifth victory on Sunday when Clark was unable to provide a playable field. The forfeit victory gives the “Wild Things” 49 of a possible 50 points going into the second half of the season.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Colonia
The Scotch Plains U14 intercounty girls soccer team the “Wild Things” lost their perfect season but are still unbeaten and untied after winning their third straight game against a tough Colonia team, 3-1 at Merrill Park in Iselin. The contradictory nature of the previous sentence can be explained by the scoring system of the league which gives 6 points for a win, a bonus point for each goal up to three and another point for a shutout. Winning their first two games, 5-0 and 4-0 had given Scotch Plains a perfect 20 points and even with the slight slipup on Saturday they still hold a commanding 29 of a possible 30 points from three games.
Krista Ciecura and Alexus Jegede each scored a spectacular goal in the first half to give the “Wild Things” sufficient scoring and Whitney Adams added an insurance tally in the second half before Colonia scored late in the game to break the shutout. Ciecura’s opening goal came on a fine pass from halfback Jillian Murphy. Ciecura lofted a spinning shot out of the goalies reach that caught the opposite side of the goal. Jegede followed ten minutes later dribbling past two defenders and deftly beating the defenseless goalie with a well-placed shot in the corner.
Adams came forward from her halfback spot to hit a hard rising shot into the top corner of the goal early in the second half. The Wild Things threatened often but were unable to add to their total as the Colonia goalie and defense made several saving plays on a warm early May day that got windier as the game progressed. Allie Thek and Jaclyn Lazarus were rarely tested in goal as the defense combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Kaitlyn Denker,Magan Mauro and Kathleen Yan kept Colonia attacks to a minimum. Denker was especially effective with several long-range kicks that nearly resulted in goals.
The midfield of Katelyn Cavanagh, Murphy, Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Ciecura, Thek and Lazarus were effective advancing the ball. Cavanagh’s throw ins were a tremendous asset. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Cassie Berwick, and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the Colonia goal.
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Krista Ciecura and Alexus Jegede each scored a spectacular goal in the first half to give the “Wild Things” sufficient scoring and Whitney Adams added an insurance tally in the second half before Colonia scored late in the game to break the shutout. Ciecura’s opening goal came on a fine pass from halfback Jillian Murphy. Ciecura lofted a spinning shot out of the goalies reach that caught the opposite side of the goal. Jegede followed ten minutes later dribbling past two defenders and deftly beating the defenseless goalie with a well-placed shot in the corner.
Adams came forward from her halfback spot to hit a hard rising shot into the top corner of the goal early in the second half. The Wild Things threatened often but were unable to add to their total as the Colonia goalie and defense made several saving plays on a warm early May day that got windier as the game progressed. Allie Thek and Jaclyn Lazarus were rarely tested in goal as the defense combination of Lauryn Adams, Christina Dokopoulos, Kaitlyn Denker,Magan Mauro and Kathleen Yan kept Colonia attacks to a minimum. Denker was especially effective with several long-range kicks that nearly resulted in goals.
The midfield of Katelyn Cavanagh, Murphy, Adams, Debra DelleDonne, Ciecura, Thek and Lazarus were effective advancing the ball. Cavanagh’s throw ins were a tremendous asset. The line combination of Rebecca Von Langen, Mary Kate Feury, Cassie Berwick, and Jegede advanced the ball skillfully and put continual pressure on the Colonia goal.
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