Absegami Field Hockey Team Breaks Through

The Absegami High School field hockey team broke through in a big way last week, picking up a 4-1 win at Vineland on Sept. 30.

Just as telling may have been a 1-0 loss to Millville on Oct. 1.

The win over the Fighting Clan was the team's first of the year, and the Braves' four-goal day was easily their best offensive output of the season.

The Braves didn't even score one in any previous games.

Kelsey Chatten found the back of the cage twice, and Jessie Leek and Victoria Edwards also scored for Absegami.

The win came over Vineland, a team that has struggled for years. However, the Braves competed with a solid Millville program, losing 1-0.

The Thunderbolts are usually among the best teams in the Cape-Atlantic League.

With so many underclassmen on the roster early, struggling pains were expected for the Braves.

The last two games show that the Braves are fighting through the mistakes of youth, and growing in the right direction.

Making It Look Easy

The Absegami boys soccer team scored three times against Vineland, and looked impressive doing it, in a 3-2 win on Oct. 3.

That hasn't always been the case this season, as the Braves are known more for their defense.

However, the midfield is more than capable of controlling the pace of the game. The Braves like to attack whether they have the ball or not.

"We are real good in the back and the middle third," Absegami coach Bill Rose said. "We have a problem making the last connecting pass. We have some guys that can play. We just have problems finding that connecting pass."

They didn't have any problems against Vineland, scoring three times off crosses, including two headers.

"Our game is to get the ball to flanks, let them serve it in and get numbers in the box," Rose said.

Changing Half the Lineup

The boys soccer team is deep. The Braves try to use their deep bench in many games.

In a 2-2 game on Oct. 3, the Braves made five changes at once, late in the game.

"We try to get some type of rotation with the guys off the bench," Rose explained. "A lot of the time it works. Sometimes it doesn't. We just try to get some fresh legs in there and get some guys some minutes."

On a Roll

The Absegami girls' soccer team has won six consecutive games.

The Braves edged North Burlington, 3-2, and Vineland, 4-1.

Erica Skroski scored twice against Vineland, and once against North Burlington. Jenna Seddon tallied two goals against North Burlington, and Rebecca Sartorio and Lea Manning scored in Absegami's win over Vineland.

The Braves will try to continue their winning streak at home against district rival Oakcrest on Oct. 5, and in Millville on Oct. 7.