If soccer fans would like to see teams compete with tenacity and pride throughout this fall season, they need not travel very far.
The Kittatinny High School and Newton High School girls' soccer programs have done all of the hard work during preseason practices and scrimmages. Now, the Cougars and the Braves are prepared for the challenges that await them in regular season competition.
Let’s take a closer look at each team.
Kittatinny Girl’s Soccer.
After finishing with an impressive overall record of 15-3-2 and advancing to the NJSIAA North 1 Group 1 Sectional Tournament quarterfinal round in 2018, the Cougars eagerly seek their goals on the pitch this year.
Veteran head coach Matt Majka welcomes back a solid core of varsity tested student athletes from last year’s squad including Olivia Redden (senior, midfield), Natalia Mattar (senior, goal keeper), Zoe Lockburner (senior, defense), Ava Brook (senior, defense), Jordan Boersig (senior, midfield), Alyssa Amorim (senior, midfield), Lauren Wrigley (junior, midfield), Brooke Bode (junior, defense), Maddie Beyer (sophomore, defense) and Arin Goriscak (sophomore, forward). Key newcomers hoping to make a positive impression at the varsity level include Ashley Bode (freshman, forward), Julia Cucchiara (freshman, midfield), Danielle Destefano (freshman, defense), Ashley Gordon (freshman, midfield), Riley Hough (freshman, defense), Ericka McCarty (freshman, midfield) and Claire Merrell (freshman, midfield).
Kittatinny competes in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Freedom Division along with Newton, Morris County Tech, High Point, Jefferson and Hackettstown. They are scheduled to host High Point in an NJAC Freedom Division game on Sept. 9. The Cougars have a road challenge at Vernon slated for September 14. Newton Girl’s Soccer:
The Braves, with head coach Jack Mull steering the ship had a solid nine win season in 2018 and they are ready to prove their worth on the field this fall. They lost in the opening round of the NJSIAA North 1 Group 1 Sectional Tournament last year.
Among the returning varsity level student athletes for Newton this fall include Erin Smith (senior, midfield), Ali Lynch (senior, defense), Olivia Kaiser (senior, midfield), Emily Brothman (senior, defense), Grace Young (senior, defense), Blaise Vallorosi (senior, midfield), Lanie Scuralli (senior, defense), Jocelyn Mull (senior, midfield), Olivia Buckley (senior, midfield), Jessica Brannick (senior, defense), Morgan Medunick (junior, defense) and Taylor Squiers (sophomore, midfield). Newton has back to back home games versus Clifton and NJAC Freedom Division opponent Morris County Tech on Sept. 7 and Sept. 9, respectively.