Hightstown High Entered Two Teams in Summer Soccer League

After finishing one season, the members of the Hightstown High School girls soccer team are preparing for another.

Hightstown recently competed in The College of New Jersey Summer Soccer League. Because there was so much interest in the league, Hightstown entered two teams with 13 players on each.

"It's just a good opportunity for everyone to get some playing time and get prepared for the varsity season," Hightstown High Coach Don Hess said.

Hess coaches the varsity team. He also coached in the summer, helped out by Ray Griffis.

Each of Hightstown two teams played six games. Team A had a record of 5-1. Team B had a record of 2-3-1.

"I took a few of the best girls and put them on each team," Hess said. "I tried to make sure each team had some scorers. It just worked out that one team had a better record than the other."

The members of Team A included Chrisina Tous, Melissa Barnes, Kelly Arnold, Lydia Walsh, Lisa Jerry, Amy Wood, Delaney Kelly, Kelly McGlew, Danielle Solomon, Rafi Alexander, Brianna D'Ambrosina, Samantha Gleich and Becca Cordo.

All of the games in the league were played in a seven versus seven format.

Team A had wins against Ewing (2-0), West Windsor South (3-1), Hopewell (2-1), Hamilton (3-0) and Bordentown (1-0). The team's lone loss was 4-2 to Steinert.

The members of Team B were Aziza Ahmed, Megan Benci, Erin Dailey, Jessica Marcus, Jen Marcus, Erin Sobkowiak, Courtney Lenzo, Kristen Bland, Imani Thomas, Cate Douglass, Morgan Page, Sarah Lechard and Melissa Arrisueno.

"I like the seven-on-seven format," Hess said. "You have less players on a smaller field. You have to work on passing more. You work on ball control. You really have to work together and get to know each other."

"It's a good league. A lot of schools did what we did and entered two teams. Those are great facilities. Kids get to play on Astroturf field," Hess said.

As Hightstown is starting to get ready for the varsity school season, it's back on the grass.

Hightstown's participation in the summer league was certainly a plus. The one drawback is it didn't have much of an edge on its opponents, who were also playing in the league. It takes a lot of hard work to just stay on an even playing field in the Colonial Valley Conference.

"Our conference is a soccer conference," Hess said. "Soccer is probably the best sport in the conference. There are a lot of good teams."