By Jeff Appelblatt
In the last two years at Woodbridge High School, Jordan Vazquez was known as an elite scorer. By now, every Woodbridge opponent knows she’s the top threat to look out for.
Or so they thought.
As the season nears, teams are starting to realize that the 33-goal scorer will no longer be an offensive weapon for the Barrons. Instead, Vazquez, who netted a team-high 21 last year, will protect Woodbridge’s net as the team’s goalie.
Coach Daniel Mortensen has been in no rush to let other teams know about the move, but he knows everyone will know soon enough.
“I’ve been keeping quiet,” the second-year coach said. “She’s taking a different role with us. She’s going to be our goalkeeper.”
Following the 2015 season, Vazquez suffered an injury that kept her on the sidelines for the basketball and softball seasons. While she continues to work herself back into shape to play all three sports, Mortensen felt the move to goal was in the student-athlete’s best interest.
“She’s definitely worked hard. She’s shown determination. If anyone could come back strong after an injury, it’s a person like [Vazquez],” Mortensen said. “The move to goalkeeper will help as she slowly gets back into shape”
Part of the reason Woodbridge’s coach won’t send Vazquez back onto the center of the field is also because he knows softball is her primary college goal. Protecting the net is just an overall less risky spot to be in. But that doesn’t mean the coach doesn’t expect the senior to be a great goalie.
“She’s kind of a coach’s dream,” Mortensen said. “I’m confident she’s going to fit into her new position. I know she’s going to go out there and give 100 percent no matter what position she’s in.”
Though the Barrons will miss her on the scoring side of the ball, the team does have last year’s second-leading scorer back. Upcoming junior Gabby D’Emilio scored 19 goals last season. She was also most reliable for setting up the best shots on net for her teammates.
“Her goal this year is the 20-20 mark,” Mortensen said, hinting at D’Emilio scoring 20 goals and getting 20 assists. “She’s always willing to put her team on her back to win.”
Woodbridge’s coach expects Emily Mazzarella and Sophia Gomez to benefit most from D’Emilio’s assists.
“Our wingers are involved a lot in our offense,” Mortensen said. “And [Gomez] is just like [D’Emilio]; the game goes directly through her. She’s my eyes out on the field.”
If the three offensive players lead the way, and the defense helps the new goalkeeper limit the opponents’ scoring, Mortensen sees no reason why his team can’t at least match the 15 victories it put up last year.
“If we stay focused, I think we could be very dangerous,” the coach said. “I always strive for being known as one of the best teams.”
And Mortensen knows what it will take to reach that level.
“We finished second in the White Division last year. We know who we have to go through,” he said. “With the right frame [of mind], if we play our style, we could win our division.”
But many games need to be played before any division winners are determined. Woodbridge’s first is Sept. 8 at Edison High School. Though the Barrons defeated Edison in each of their games last year, Mortensen knows the 4 p.m. contest will be a tough one.
“It took us the full 80 minutes each game last year,” Mortensen said about each of the 2-1 victories, the second which was decided in overtime by a Vazquez goal. “This game is at their place; [Edison’s] Felicia [Forsythe] can score. It should be another close matchup.”
