Sayreville girls soccer prepares for state tourney
Bombers look to end season on a high note
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
The Sayreville High School girls soccer team will be looking to get back to its winning ways when the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs start next week.

The Bombers have qualified thanks to a 10-7-1 overall mark, but they won't know who their opponent will be until the seedings are announced tomorrow.

Sayreville, which finished fourth in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division, enters the playoffs following a disappointing 2-0 loss to South Brunswick (7-9-1) in the opening round of the GMC Tournament on Saturday.

"We have to start generating more offense," said coach Leah Craig, whose team got off just five shots on goal against South Brunswick. "The girls need to shoot more and press the attack. It's something we've been spending a lot of time on in practice."

Although the Bombers haven't been scoring of late, they do have plenty of players capable of putting the ball in the net. Midfielder Ruba Sbeah leads the team in scoring with 10 goals and five assists. Staci Jankielewicz, a sophomore midfielder, has notched six goals to go with one assist.

The Sayreville forwards can also score. Maryann Boulton has posted seven goals and two assists, Amanda Mathisen has six goals and an assist, and Julise Aponte has four goals and a team-leading eight assists. Mathisen and Aponte are both juniors.

Craig said her defense has been generally good, thanks to fullbacks Kayla Hubella, Melissa Restivo and Melissa Mocarski. Junior goaltender Allie Cuoza has nine shutouts, including a whitewashing of North Brunswick.

Injuries have also hampered the Bombers. Junior midfielder Jules Burns is out for the season with a torn ACL. In addition, senior stopper Dara Zaleski is out with an ankle injury and sophomore sweeper Danielle Hogan has a knee problem. Craig is hoping to have both Zaleski and Hogan back for the state game.

"Getting those two players back will be a big help, they both play key roles for us," Craig said. "It's always tough when you have to move players around because of injuries, but the girls are hanging in there."

Sayreville's record of 10 wins is one more than the Bombers posted a year ago when they also lost 10 times, so this year's crew is already assured of a better record. The upset loss to South Brunswick, however, may have created more focus among the team's 13 seniors.

"The girls are very eager to keep playing, and to do that, you have to keep winning," the coach said. "The girls felt they should have beaten South Brunswick; hopefully, the loss will spur them on. They know they can do well in the states, they just have to go out and do it."