Athlete of the Week: Maggie Filja's Power Propels Heights

Hasbrouck Heights girls soccer team has not won a state sectional title since 2008 and would like to add another title this season.

The Lady Aviators are going to need as much fire power as possible when they expect to take on the likes of Mahwah, Ramsey, River Dell and other powerhouses when it comes to the state tournament in Group 2 North 1.

One of the players that could be that big striker for Heights is sophomore Maggie Filja.

The Lady Aviators forward has shown the firepower so far in the early going of the 2011 season.

In the first four games, the sophomore forward already had five goals and counting as the Lady Aviators were a perfect 4-0 as of Thursday. "She plays on a club team and we are looking for her to score," said Hasbrouck Heights head coach Joe Mastropietro. "She's been fantastic."

And it was the season opener on Sept. 9 that was the biggest in the early going with a 2-0 victory at Saddle Brook. Both teams tied for the All North Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands B division title last season.

In the win over the Lady Falcons, Filja scored both goals to give Heights a big victory. Filja scored the first three goals of the Heights 2011 season as she came out the next day, against Elmwood Park at the Rosa Holowen Cancer Classic and Filja scored the first goal in the first 17 minutes as Heights went on to win 2-1 over the Lady Crusaders.

Filja played on the varsity as a freshman, but she admitted that she was a bit tenuous as a freshman on the varsity. "I was always nervous as a freshman," said Filja after the win over Elmwood Park and added about this season. "You have to stay calm and composed."

She added that the victory over Saddle Brook was something that the team has been looking at since last season. "We wanted that game so bad," said Filja. "We were BBMing (Blackberry Messenging) back and forth and getting everybody pumped up."

Filja plays soccer 12 months out of the year and during the summer played for a Lincoln Park club team. 

In the offseason the now sophomore striker said that she worked on all aspects of her game. “I worked on everything,” said Filja who though added that she specifically did her homework on shooting and finishing.

Against Elmwood Park she had missed on a few good opportunities, but with her maturity she has a very good attitude. “You just feel like you get it next time,” said Filja.

In the early going Filja and junior forward/midfielder Danielle Cannici have clicked up front along with senior forward Jodee Giarratana.

And in terms of the team so far so good and Filja likes the family atmosphere. “We just work so well together and have dinner before the games,” said the sophomore striker.

In addition she is playing with some of her long-time friends that she has been on the soccer fields of Heights since eight years old in the other sophomores Jenna DiGiacinto, Kristen Delcalzo and Angelika Barrise.

For Filja and the rest of her friends, the goal is to win the division outright and bring home a state sectional title. So far, they cannot be stopped when led by the sophomore striker.