montgomerygirlssoccer.com/pdf/Senior Night 2006.pdf
Pingry’s Sheeleigh stepped forward
Somerset Review
Sunday, December 10, 2006
By GREGG LERNER
For The Star-Ledger
* Player of the year: Katherine Sheeleigh has always had a knack for filling in space.
As an overlapping midfielder for three years, the Pingry standout did some of her best work when seizing an opportunity to expose a hole in the defense. This year, the senior responded in similar fashion when asked to fill a different type of void.
A tender ankle that relegated two-time All-Stater Brittani Bartok to the bench, an injury that eventually cost the scoring star almost all of her junior year, meant someone needed to step up to carry the scoring load.
Sheeleigh answered the call.
Fueled by an explosive start in which she scored at least once in 11 of the first 12 matches, Sheeleigh provided not only a scoring punch but a message to her teammates that she would make sure the offense wouldn’t suffer in Bartok’s absence. She ended the year with 37 goals and picked up the last two of her 16 assists in Pingry’s 2-1 overtime victory against Red Bank Catholic in the NJSIAA Non-Public A state final.
* Team of the year: Montgomery utilized its depth and talent by moving back to go forward. With the front line and midfielders willing to check back to the ball and aid the defense, the Skillman team was able to build its attack from the back and come at an opponent with numbers coming forward. Defenders Allie Slattery and Micaela Collins and keeper Ally Mancino complemented the firepower of midfielders Brie Miller and Shannon Hayes as well as forward Lauren McClintic and drove it to a 19-3 mark that included its first Somerset County Tournament title. It pressed Steinert to the limit in the Central Jersey, Group 4 final only to succumb, 2-1, on a goal with two seconds left in regulation.
* Coach of the year: After spending four years as the assistant coach, Michael Kydonieus assumed the lead role at Somerville this year and guided it through a 17-4-1 run that included a 3-1 triumph over Shore Regional in the Central Jersey, Group 2 final – the program’s first sectional title.
* The multi-tasker: Labeling Michelle Aueron by position isn’t easy considering her place on the field can change from possession to possession. The Pingry senior has made her mark as defender, most notably as a center back, but showed diversity this year by moving into the midfield. Her presence there provided an early line of defense but also aided in pushing the attack forward. She also made Pingry dangerous off restarts with both her serves and scoring touch, which she showed with a strike in a 3-0 victory over Immaculate Heart in the North Jersey, Non-Public A final.
* This ball sure seems light: Taryn O’Connor has made her name as one of the state’s premier shot putters. On the soccer field, the senior keeper from Hillsborough proved nimble around the net, making a number of big saves in helping Hillsborough to a 14-5 campaign. She secured 11 shutouts and made 10 stops in a pair of 1-0 victories over Montgomery.
* Masterful midfielders: The flow of Bridgewater’s offense usually went through its central midfield combination of seniors Lina Staropoli and Chelsea Regan. Staropoli was a shrewd playmaker who was integral in forward Jazmine Farrell’s breakout season while Regan, heading to Boston College, fought through injury while showing she’s one of the area’s top tacticians.
* Comeback of the year: Buried in a 2-0 hole less than 15 minutes into its Central Jersey, Group 4 semifinal match with Brick Memorial, Montgomery rebounded behind go-to player Lauren McClintic. The junior forward, who is among the best at playing with her back to goal, scored three times in the second half to rally Montgomery for a 5-4 win. * A Smartt defender: Nikki Smartt relished the chance to defuse a developing attack. The senior defender adhered to an aggressive approach that routinely allowed her to dispossess a charging striker and send Hillsborough in the opposite direction.
* Collins answered call: Micaela Collins served a number of roles for Montgomery and handled each with equal efficiency. As a lights-out marking back, Montgomery could count on few scoring chances developing off her side. Her easy-flowing style on defense translated into some routes in which to involve herself offensively, either with a timely run or pass that triggered the offense.
* Upset of the year: Immaculata (5-13), seeded 10th, put together arguably its best defensive performance in battling seventh-seeded Ridge (12-8-1) to a scoreless draw through regulation and two overtimes in the second round of the Somerset County Tournament. Sophomore Danielle Circelli, making her first varsity start, stopped 12 shots and Kaitlin Barry, Shauna Mulkerin and Christie DeNizio all converted in the shootout, which Immaculata won, 3-2.
* County pride: Somerset can make a case for being the most challenging county in the state when it comes to girls soccer. Of the 15 teams that compete, four teams – Montgomery (19-3), Pingry (20-2-1), Hillsborough (14-5) and Bridgewater-Raritan (14-5) – finished in The Star-Ledger Top 20. Pingry claimed the Non-Public A state title, Somerville (17-4-1) won the Central Jersey, Group 2 sectional final and Montgomery captured the program’s first SCT title.