By Wayne Witkowski
A familiar figure returns to the New Egypt High School girls soccer sidelines when the Warriors open their season.
Jen Kociuba, who coached the Warriors over seven years to a state section title in 2011 a year after going unbeaten in the Burlington County Scholastic League (BCSL) Freedom Division, stepped down from coaching after the 2013 season. But she has come back for the approaching season after being appointed by the board a month ago. Kociuba said at the time that she left because her husband was working different hours at nights and she needed more time with her family.
Last year, New Egypt was 9-11-2 under Janet Carney in her second season there, ending with a 4-0 loss to Metuchen High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group I quarterfinals. The Warriors closed the season with a 5-1-2 run, including a 2-1 opening-round victory in the state tournament over Burlington City High School in which Holly Wetzel, a rising sophomore, scored both goals.
“Mike Mendez, the New Egypt principal, talked to me about coming back and when I met with the girls to talk about coming back, I was welcomed and we were excited,” Kociuba said.
She awaits the board’s approval of two candidates for assistant coaching positions to take over a young team that has been moved into the BCSL Patriot Division that includes some larger enrollment schools.
“It’s more challenging, but I think it’s a good thing, improving from the past,” Kociuba said. “It’s something to look forward to and to work toward.”
Casey McKenzie, who led New Egypt with 21 goals and was an all-league selection, and goalkeeper Sarah Wiersky, who posted three shutouts, are among the seven seniors on the roster who graduated.
“They were a young team last year and started building confidence,” Kociuba said of the late-season surge. “We have a large number of freshmen coming in.”
Alyssa Zarriello and Gabby Medina, both seniors this fall, are the only holdovers this season from the last team Kociuba had coached in the 2013 season.
“They’re both very strong players and will play a big part on the team,” Kociuba said.
Kociuba said she still is working on a game plan and formations that will include some of the template from her previous coaching experience at New Egypt but will be modified based on the type of players on the team.
The Warriors open their season Sept. 8 at Holy Cross Academy and their scrimmage opponents include Hightstown High School and St. Joseph High School of Hammonton.
“My philosophy that I stress all the time is that the players have to work together and put their differences aside to achieve common goals,” Kociuba said. “The players have to match up together and be on the same page.”
She said she gave each player an individual workout conditioning program for the summer months geared to those used by colleges. The team will begin team workouts when preseason gets under way.
