Caldwell Girls Soccer Puts Best Foot Forward

After a year of adjusting to the Super Essex Conference, the Caldwell High girls soccer team is primed for a return to among the state's elite.

The 2008 North Jersey Section 2, Group 2 champs finished fourth last season in the SEC American Division, which included Essex County finalists Montclair and Millburn, and reached the state sectional quarterfinals.

Now the Chiefs are ready to take a step toward reclaiming the state crown.

"We held our own and did as expected," Caldwell coach Mike Teshkoyan said of the 2009 season.

Caldwell finished 11-9 overall and lost in the North 2, Group 2 quarterfinals to Bernards, a team the Chiefs beat 2-1 for the 2008 sectional championship.

"They were two similar games and could have gone either way," Teshkoyan said.

Many of the current seniors were sophomores on that 2008 team and want to get back to that point this season.

"We want to do well in the conference and go far in the state," said senior forward Kate McDonnell, who was a second team All-Super Essex Conference selection last year.

McDonnell, who has 44 career goals, will once again fuel Caldwell's offense after netting 11 goals and recording 14 assists last season.

"She's got a good shot and reads the game very well while being a good passer," Teshkoyan said.

The Chiefs graduated 10 seniors last season, including Molly Sellars, who was a first team All-SEC pick.

However, Caldwell has plenty of players returning. A big part of the team includes members of the 2009 junior varsity squad that only suffered one loss last season under coach Sara Schechter, who is also a varsity assistant.

 "We have to work together," senior forward Sam Borges said. "We have a lot of new players and have to get the team to come together."

With the team's starting goalie out for the season with an injury, freshman Carleigh Trivino took over the role last year. Now with a year of experience under her belt, Trivino returns to the net for her sophomore season.

"She knows what it is like to be a competitive cauldron," said Teshkoyan, who also coached Trivino on the softball team. "She has very good leadership and is very vocal."

Trivino is one of several sophomores on the team, along with midfielders Emily Banaszynski, Gabby Roselle and Val Corasaniti. 'They got their feet wet," Teshkoyan said of the experience they gained last year.

Along with McDonnell, Roselle is one of the few scorers who are back this season. Roselle scored three goals last season as a freshman and Teshkoyan expects to lean on her even more this season.

Roselle will be joined in the midfield by junior Annie Mergner and Banaszynski.

Senior Amanda Rodriguez and sophomores Ashley Davidson and Meredith Weber, who is returning from knee surgery, will be relied on defensively.

In addition to Millburn and Montclair, Teshkoyan expects teams like Livingston and Nutley to be tough to beat as well.   

"There is not one team to take lightly," Teshkoyan said.

Caldwell will open the season with away games against Nutley (Sept. 13), Mount St. Dominic (Sept. 15) and Millburn (Sept.22), before its home-opener against Glen Ridge on Sept. 25.

"We were born to be ready," senior fullback Jen Toron said. "I think we have a close team and we're going for the conference and for the states."

(Games at 4 p.m. unless noted)

Sept. 13        at Nutley
Sept. 15        at Mount St. Dominic
Sept. 22        at Millburn
Sept. 25        Glen Ridge, 10 a.m.
Sept. 27        at Montclair
Oct. 1            West Essex, 6 p.m.
Oct. 4            at Blair Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 5            Nutley
Oct. 7            at Livingston
Oct. 8            Union City, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 10          ECT first round, TBA
Oct. 11           McNair Academy, 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 13           Mount S. Dominic, 6 p.m.
Oct. 15           at Passaic Tech
Oct. 17           ECT quarters, TBA
Oct. 20          Millburn
Oct. 21           at ECT Semi-final, TBA
Oct. 22           Montclair
Oct. 24           at ECT Final, TBA
Oct. 25           at West Essex