By Warren Rappleyea
Old Bridge High School’s girls lacrosse team weathered a five-game losing streak and has evened its record at 8-8 as the season heads into the home stretch.
The youthful Lady Knights got off to a quick start — winning seven of their first 10 matches — but there is still plenty of reason for optimism as fifth-seeded Old Bridge was set to take.on fourth-seeded East Brunswick High School May 10 in the opening round of the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament.
Coach Stephen Gajewski’s team is coming off a solid 12-2 win against New Egypt High School May 6 that saw his team race out to a 7-2 lead at the half. Freshman Abbie Zimmerlink led the offensive onslaught with seven goals — giving her 44 on the season to top the team. Allie Lopes added a pair of goals in the win.
Old Bridge played well against Immaculata High School the previous day but fell, 16-11, despite eight goals from Zimmerlink and a two-goal, two-assist performance by Lopes. During the losing streak, the Lady Knights lost close matches to Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Manalapan High School and South Brunswick High School before getting back on the winning track against New Egypt.
The emergence of Zimmerlink, who also has tallied 13 assists, has given opponents something to think about while broadening the Old Bridge attack. Lopes has 30 goals to her credit to go with 14 assists, and Melanie Santurro has 22 goals and 13 assists.
Senior midfielder Eliza Ryan has pitched in with 12 goals and six assists, while freshmen Lindsey Shafer and Lexi Zimmerlink have scored nine goals apiece from the middle of the field.
“We’re still a young team, but a lot of girls are contributing and with a break here and there, we could have a few more wins,” the coach said. “Overall, the girls have played very well.”
A victory over East Brunswick High School, a team Old Bridge downed 11-6 earlier in the season, would likely pit the Lady Knights against top-seeded and undefeated North Brunswick Township High School May 12 in the semifinals — a rematch of last year’s GMC finals. A year ago, Old Bridge came from behind to upset the Raiders on a goal with less than 30 seconds remaining in regulation time.
