By Tim Morris
Youth can be a strength for a team. The past means little the athletes.
The Marlboro High School girls lacrosse team has not seen the postseason since 2009 and has never had a winning season. Yet, that hasn’t kept these Mustangs, a young squad with only three seniors, from setting the bar high for 2016.
Head coach Bill Daley believes those goals, such as the first winning season in school history and qualifying for the Shore Conference Tournament and state playoffs, are achievable because of the team’s attitude.
“They are a hard-working family of girls that I really enjoy coaching,” Daley said. “They push each other to get better every day.
“This is one of the closest group of girls that we have ever had on the lacrosse team and it shows on the field. They help each other defensively and are very unselfish with moving the ball.”
Although they are 3-4 through the first seven games of the season, it was a 7-6 overtime win over Howell High School, a team that has consistently been competing for first place in the Shore Conference A North Division, that signaled the Mustangs could be ready to take that next step this spring. Two of their four losses have been to undefeated Wall High School and Freehold Township High School — the division’s two powerhouses.
Sophomore goalie Sam Meiskin has been a difference-maker for the Mustangs.
“She is off to a great start,” Daley said.
The junior varsity goalie last year, Meiskin is a big reason the team has won one-goal games against Howell and Long Branch High School, 5-4, and is allowing under 10 goals a game.
Jamie Gerringer, who scored the overtime game-winner against Howell, is leading the club in goals scored (18). The junior, who plays attack wing, is on course to surpass 100 career goals and points this year.
Junior Christina James leads Marlboro in scoring with 21 points on 10 goals and 11 assists. She runs the offense from the first home position.
Mia Rosenthal has picked up her offense this year. The junior center is second on the team in goals scored (13) after tallying one goal last year. She takes the draws for the club.
This trio has been carrying the Marlboro offense.
Defensively, the Mustangs are relying on experience from senior co-captains Erinn Colbert (cover point) and Carly Weilheimer (defensive wing).
The Mustangs’ third senior captain is Andrea Vetrano.
Also back from 2015 are juniors Mikayla Berk (attack wing), Amanda Donnelly (third home), Olivia Egnatovich (defensive wing), Katie Glass (third man) and Sara Nissen (point); and sophomores Carly Belasco (goalie), Alexandra Venek (defensive wing) and Erin Colye (third home).
Along with Meiskin, the other sophomore newcomers include Rachel Huang (attack wing), Danielle Bernstein (third man), Alex Brian (third home), Brooke Fromkin (attack wing) and Danielle Zwerin (third home).
The Mustangs have a big week coming up in their pursuit of a winning record. They were scheduled to play Manalapan High School April 19. On April 25, they visit Freehold Township. Both teams beat Marlboro the first go-around.
On April 26, the Mustangs get a reprieve by playing winless Neptune High School in Marlboro.
