Veterans and Skilled Newcomers Form Lady Cougars Lax Team

A young program still building itself up, the girls’ lacrosse team is looking to get back to the state tournament this year and improve upon last season’s 10-9 record.

First-year varsity head coach Laura Cataldi, who served as an assistant in 2010, is optimistic her team can achieve those goals. Although the Lady Cougars have only 15 players, they are strong both offensively and defensively.

"The roster is pretty small, but we have a good solid defense and can also score goals," Cataldi said. "If we work together as a team we should finish above .500 again."

Last year Cranford reached the North II Sectional Tournament, but as a 13 seed lost to fourth seeded Indian Hills in the opening round. Cataldi wants her team to take it one step further and win at least one playoff game.

"We want to make it and advance," she said. "It would be a great goal to achieve. Hopefully in the near future our goal will be to win the section."

The Lady Cougars have five senior leaders they will rely on to guide them back into the playoffs. These upperclassmen are Nikki Kleiman, Kelly Miller, Megan Pijanowski, Jackie Monteagudo, and Alexa Preucil.

"The seniors are doing a great job," Cataldi said. "They are all captains, and their presence on the field is necessary."

The Lady Cougars depend on Kleiman as both a scorer and a playmaker. Through their first two games this season, she accounted for nine of the team’s 23 goals (39.1 percent). Eight of them came in a 21-9 blowout win against Union Catholic on April 4. Kleiman’s other goal was in the season opening 18-2 loss to Summit High School on April 1.

"Nikki is a great goal scorer, and a great leader on offense," Cataldi said. "She must maintain her attacking energy for us."

Cranford also has six sophomores and four freshmen. Sophomore Erica Faraone is a first-year lacrosse player, but coming from a track background she brings great speed to the team.

"She is great in midfield transition because of her speed," Cataldi said. "Her athleticism allowed her to pick up lacrosse quickly, and she is an asset."

Of the Lady Cougars’ four freshmen, Olivia Luppino and goaltender Catherine Miller are in the starting lineup. Cataldi is impressed with Luppino’s work on defense, and is excited to have a young goalie of Miller’s caliber.

"Miller has good stick skills, and a lot of potential," Cataldi said. "We are very fortunate have our goalie as someone we can work with all four years."

Cranford plays a 16-game regular season schedule excluding the Union County Tournament. Every contest is important, but Cataldi points to the April 13 meeting with Governor Livingston High School as the biggest rivalry game.

"For years Governor Livingston has been a rival," she said. "Two years ago we beat them, but we lost last season. We definitely want to come back and win this year."

After beginning the season 1-1, the Lady Cougars hosted Westfield High School on Wednesday and lost 15-8. They  will play at Oak Knoll Friday at 4 p.m.