Akylah Hawkins and Kelly DeGaetano are only freshmen at North Brunswick Township High School.
But on Sept. 27 at North Brunswick, they controlled a girls’ soccer game for long stretches against a really good Edison High School team.
Edison still won, 6-2, because it had great finishers, side-to-side organization and defenders who kept Hawkins and DeGaetano in front of them.
These are characteristics of an experienced team that knows how to play together and beat specific opponents. Still, North Brunswick’s talent and energy, sparked by its freshmen, was palpable and relentless.
The Raiders took more shots (20-17) and put more shots on goal (11-10) than the Eagles. They also kept the ball on Edison’s side for a majority of the game.
Hawkins and DeGaetano just could not find openings near the net. Both of North Brunswick’s goals came on shots from outside the box.
Edison had a defender on DeGaetano, a speedy scorer, whenever North Brunswick tried to hit her with through balls and crosses. The Eagles were content to give Hawkins, a tall, powerful playmaker, her space to dribble outside the box. They just made sure to mark her teammates and cut off her shot angles.
North Brunswick’s effort was impressive for a young club. But they ran into an elite veteran counterpart on Sept. 27.
“We work as a unit and it’s all about communication with the defense,” said Edison defender Jessica Hoover. “And just anticipating what runs they are going to make and the balls they are going to play.”
“A lot of shots were coming from outside the 18 (yard box),” said Edison goalkeeper Briana Reyes.
With the loss to Edison, North Brunswick is 5-4 overall and 4-3 in Greater Middlesex Conference’s White Division play. The Raiders have lost three of their last four games. Those losses came to the other three GMC White Division teams with winning records.
“I think we played very well. We had our opportunities. We were able to dominate the middle of the field (against Edison),” said North Brunswick assistant coach Maureen Shamy. “But when you miss (opportunities), that’s big.”
The Raiders missed a penalty kick and some other chances versus the Eagles. Yet, they still scored twice. They scored three times in a loss to Sayreville War Memorial High School on Sept. 25.
North Brunswick has 31 goals in nine games, an impressive average of 3.4 per contest. DeGaetano (18) and Hawkins (four) have combined for 22 goals. They are also tied for the team lead in assists with four each.
“We can compete with people,” Shamy said. “There’s no doubt about that.”
To beat better teams, North Brunswick will have to improve its defense. The Raiders’ defenders play like DeGaetano and Hawkins. They push up and help create chances.
But Edison got behind them a lot on Sept. 27, which led to the six-goal explosion. North Brunswick has allowed 12 goals in its last two games and 24 this year, or almost three per game.
The Raiders were missing two starting defenders, Avery Lange and Hayley Greenberg, against Edison.
“I need to get my two starting defenders back,” Shamy said. “The replacements haven’t played bad, but speed helps.”
The defenders do not have to be perfect. They just have to play well enough to allow the Raiders to score with talented opponents. DeGaetano, Hawkins and their teammates can definitely do that if given the chance.
“We’re not at all defeated by the score (6-2 versus Edison). We have so much talent going into the future,” said North Brunswick midfielder Delaney Timm. “This really gave us a boost of confidence because we know we can connect even when we play a really good team.”
