The girls’ soccer team at Toms River High School North shrugged off a loss in fine style.
Toms River North defeated Brick Memorial High School, 4-1, on Sept. 20 in Toms River.
Junior Emily Royson sparked the Toms River North attack with two goals and two assists..Junior Julia Fiorito and senior Jazmin Brown each contributed to the victory with a goal apiece.
That defeat came after Toms River North was defeated by Brick Township High School, 3-1, on Sept. 13 in Brick.
Toms River North coach Thomas Miller was impressed on how his Mariners played in the victory over Brick Memorial.
“The team came out excited and it showed,” Coach Miller said. “We missed a couple chances early. When the team got the first goal the team settled in. It made it a little easier for them.”
According to Miller, his club can compete for a Shore Conference A South Division championship.
“We lost to Brick Township so we are behind,” he said. “We just have to keep trying. We want to compete for the Shore conference and the state sectional tournaments.”
Miller said he wants the team to come out with the same intensity going forward this season.
According to Miller, Toms River North has been working on some new offensive and defensive schemes after the losses this season to Saint John Vianney High School and Brick Township.
The Mariners offense produced four goals in the match. Senior midfielder Madison Bennert said she believes this offensive out-put can continue throughout the season.
“We are just going to have to keep grinding,” Bennert said. “We came out with those two losses and we knew we had to change something up. If we can have the wingers in and get two up-top consistently we will be golden.”
According to Bennert, the practices have been harder.
“We learned a lot from out recent games,” she said. “We just have to keep learning from that. We have to keep working out on the press, because that quick press is going to help us shut those defenders down and get those balls through.”
Bennert said this year can be special.
“It was a restructuring year not a rebuilding one,” she said. “We knew we had to build up the center a little bit because we did lose key players. We had a lot of girls really step up this year. We just have to keep stepping up and filling in those roles.”
Brown, a forward, who scored a goal in the victory over Brick Memorial, said that Toms River North is improving over each game.
“We had a pretty rough start,” Brown said. “We have been working hard in every practice. Every pass and mistake we are learning off of it. We just have to keep learning from our mistakes and keep moving forward.”
Since defeating Brick Memorial at home, Toms River North has gone on to split the next two games. It shut out Toms River East at home, 3-0, then lost to Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, 3-1.
Emily Royson scored another two goals against Toms River East, while Alexa Peto accompanied her with a goal. Julia Fiorito scored the lone goal in North’s loss to Ridge High School.
Toms River North played rival Toms River High School South on Sept. 25 and will then meet Southern Regional High School in Manahawkin on Sept. 27. The Mariners return home to take on Howell High School on Sept. 28.
