Sartorio, Vitrano Lead Absegami Girls' Soccer Team Past Vineland

An early goal and having their second leading scorer missing the game weren't enough to slow down the Absegami High School girls' soccer team on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

The Braves, playing without a sick Jenna Seddon, scored three unanswered goals, including two by Rebecca Sartorio, to beat Vineland, 3-1, on a dark and cool afternoon.

The win was the team's 10th straight win, and completed a sweep of the regular season series with the Fighting Clan.

"We are the type of team that if there is an early goal scored against us, they can fight back," Absegami coach Elizabeth Lee said. "That says a lot about their character. They are really competitive and want to win."

Absegami's offense has mainly come from Erica Skroski and Seddon this season, but neither was on the score sheet against Vineland.

Getting offensive output from other players is a good sign, as the Braves prepare for the first round of the Coaches Tournament on Saturday, and the playoffs later this month.

Nina Singleton put the Fighting Clam on the scoreboard in the fourth minute of the game. However, Absegami outplayed Vineland for most of the game, and outshot the Fighting Clan, 14-4.

Absegami's Ally Vitrano tied the score in the 20th minute.

"I asked for it back, I shot it and it went in," Vitrano said. "It was security. It got us back in the game, and we knew we had a shot to win."

Despite the many Braves' chances, the score remained tied late into the second half. That all changed when Sartorio scored the game-winning goal from 15 yards out with an assist from Lea Manning with 13:43 remaining in the game.

"It was good," Sartorio said. "One of our leading scorers was out so we had to step up.

A desperate Vineland side tried put some pressure on the Braves, but Skroski, Lindsey Jarolmen and Alexis Robinson made life difficult for the Fighting Clan.

The trio controlled possession and kept the ball in the Vineland end of the pitch. Robinson's cross skipped through the Vineland defense, and found Sartorio in the middle of the box.

Sartorio kicked home the insurance goal with 2:48 left in the game.

"I was in the right place at the right time," said Sartorio, who also scored in the first meeting with Vineland.

"Our second leading scorer is out so somebody is going to have to step up and score some goals," Lee said. "They both did a great job and stepped up."