Absegami Girls' Soccer Team Looking to Repeat Last Season's Success

Every soccer season may be different, but at the very least the girls would like to continue their success from a year ago.

, which is coming off an historic year, is not just looking for another great season. Their goal is for every season to be a success, and have the Absegami name known throughout southern New Jersey, if not the entire state, for its brand of soccer.

“That is a huge motivation,” Absegami senior Kelsey Tierney said. “It was great having the community come together, and know that is our high school. I feel like we represent our community and we want to make them proud. We want them to send their kids to Absegami and want to be part of the program. It’s a huge motivation. We want to be known for winning. We want them to be proud and we don’t want to let anyone down.

“We just want to improve as a team and go far and make the community proud again. We want to have people come out and support us. I won’t say we love the attention, but we want Absegami to be recognized (as a soccer school.).”

The Braves, who won the Cape-Atlantic League American Conference, reached the finals of the Coaches Tournament—which is for the top ranked teams in South Jersey—and the Group IV South playoffs. Absegami eventually lost both games to perennial powerhouse Lenape.

Absegami lost several key players from last year’s squad, but returns 14 players, and expects to contend for all three titles again in 2011.

"Honestly we are all optimistic and excited to be back and playing together again,” Tierney said. “Obviously we are coming off a great year, and we want to live up to the expectations again. We are very optimistic and very hopeful.”

Tierney a fullback, and Erica Skroski, a midfielder, both made first-team CAL and South Jersey a year ago, so the Braves have plenty of talent to reach their goals. Also back is senior midfielder Lexi Robinson.

Junior Jenna Seddon was one of the Braves’ best defenders a year ago, but will be moved to forward to give the squad some scoring punch and make up for some of the losses to graduation, including Nicole Belfonte.

“She is an outstanding athlete,” Absegami coach Elizabeth Lee said of Seddon. “We lost two of our top goal scorers. We need to compete, to convert our opportunities.”

Elisa DiRenzo will be relied on to strengthen the Braves’ defense in front of keeper Hayley Grimm, who saw some time last year, but missed most of the 2010 season with an injury.

“I think we are a very, very talented team,” Lee said. “How many teams have two first-team South Jersey players in it, which we do. I think we have other players that are more than capable to do the job, as they did last year. We have to play more of a collective team effort. Everyone needs to pull their weight. It’s not going to be about being a star.

“Just looking around the league we have a good chance to compete for our conference again and hopefully get another invitation to the Coaches Tournament. Hopefully, we will go to the playoffs and go deep again. Lenape is an outstanding team and I would love to see them again.”