By Warren Rappleyea
Old Bridge High School’s girls lacrosse team heads into the season on the heels of an 11-7 campaign that was much better than the record suggests.
The Lady Knights caught fire in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament and went on to defeat top-seeded North Brunswick Township High School in an exciting championship match, 15-14. Old Bridge scored a pair of goals in the final two minutes, with Allie Lopes netting the game-winner with just 30 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Old Bridge returns most of its players — with the exception of leading scorer Sam Potts and Shannon Flynn, who combined to score 82 of the team’s 179 goals. Potts was also the team leader. She tallied seven goals, including the tying goal in the GMC championship.
“Those are clearly big shoes to fill,” Lady Knights coach Stephen Gajewski said. “We’re still a young team, but most of our players have experience from last season.”
That includes Lopes, who is expected to play a big role this time around after finishing second on the team in scoring with 25 goals and 30 assists as a junior. Melanie Santurro scored 25 goals and added eight assists a year ago. She led the team with 79 ground balls, and sophomore Erin Handy is poised for more playing time up front after scoring 11 goals last season. Juniors Heather Pappa and Nicole Chiofalo, along with talented freshman Abbie Zimmerlink, will spell the attackers.
The Lady Knights’ midfield remains intact with Ariana Cacella, who tallied 16 goals to go with seven assists, Eliza Ryan and sophomore Julia Sandor. Junior Emily Carrington and a pair of freshmen, Lindsay Schaefer and Lexi Zimmerlink, will come off the bench.
Old Bridge’s defense was quietly effective and efficient last year. Three of four starters return on the backline, and the goalkeeping duo of seniors Lucy Tamke and Emily Fedor returns for a third season in front of the net.
Madison Kellermueller is the Lady Knights’ top rear guard and was recognized as the GMC Defensive Player of the Year. She will be working with low defenders Hannah Gosztyla and Janell Harden, who are both juniors. Junior Tina Fumo will augment the back line.
A year ago, Gajewski considered the defense to be his team’s strongest asset as he expected his team would struggle to score. The offense came around and things took off from there. Once again, the Lady Knights will look to the defense to keep them in games; however, it appears there will be more than enough firepower up front.
The coach again credited the district’s middle school program with developing players who are ready to step in quickly at the varsity level. Last year’s freshmen were the first graduates of Old Bridge’s 4-year-old middle school program.
“Were getting good, solid players who can step right in,” he said. “There’s an adjustment period, of course, but these kids know the game.”
