Absegami Girls' Soccer Team Impresses in Opening Round of Playoffs

The girls' soccer team was so good at times on Monday afternoon, Oct. 31 that even Braves coach Elizabeth Lee was impressed.

Absegami, the top seed, easily defeated No. 16 Triton, 4-1, in the opening round of the NJSIAA Group IV South playoffs.

The Braves host Toms River East on Wednesday in the sectional quarterfinals.

Absegami’s Elise DiRenzo scored a goal and had two assists, but it was her goal that got Lee’s attention.

DiRenzo, who usually takes all the corners and free kicks, bent a shot in from near the corner on a free kick.

“It looked like a corner but it was a free kick and she put it in the side,” Lee said. “I asked her, did you mean to score?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I was actually trying to put in it.’ She had a great game today.”

DiRenzo wasn’t the only Absegami player to impress.

The Braves dominated most of the contest with Erica Skroski, Jenna Seddon and Jordynn Bishop also finding the back of the net. Lexi Robinson added an assist.

Absegami led 2-0 when Triton’s Paige Bergman, scored with seven minutes left in the first half, but the Braves added two more in the second half en route to the three-goal win.

“We dominated possession in the first half and Triton got some momentum in the last 10 minutes of the half,” Lee explained. "When they scored their goal, it put us back on our heels. In the second half we came out and kept possession and had other opportunities to score. It could have been 6-1.”

Other than the one goal, Absegami was pleased with its debut in the 2011 playoffs.

“The goal they had was a good goal scored by their freshman who leads the team in goals,” Lee said. “We knew all about her. She had a nice goal and they had a couple opportunities. But we played well defensively. I’m pretty happy about it.”