As good as the Westfield High girls soccer team was last season, it could have been
even better.
The Blue Devils finished 21-2-1, winning the North Jersey, Section 2 Group IV title.
But Westfield fell short in its effort to win the state Group IV and Union County
Tournament titles. The Blue Devils lost to Lenape in overtime in the state final at The College of New Jersey.
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Blue Devils open the new season Saturday at 1 p.m. at Union.
"Hopefully we can have the same kind of success,'' said head coach Alex Schmidt, who welcomed 102 players for the varsity, junior varsity and freshman tryouts. "The kids don't want to be the team after 2009. They want to make sure they have their own identity and are working hard to do it.''
Find out what's happening in Westfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Senior forwards Sam Costello and Tina Landeka return along with sophomore Catherine Kerr, junior Mercedes Smith, senior Tracy Kaplan, junior Jordan Yarusi and senior Alison Birnbaum. The midfield will be led by senior Emma Franks with sophomore Alexandra Tinfow freshman Karli Sottung, junior Kayla Krasnoo, junior Amanda Marcatullio, sophomore Sofia Beneroff, freshman Mary Randazzo, senior Sirena Van Epp, junior Tess Lukowiak and sophomore Sarah Freer.
The defense will be led by seniors Hannah Kronick and Anne Maguire, juniors Vicki
Gagliano, Ellie Caliman and Madison Yarusi and sophomore Jess Kenney. Senior keeper Gaby Gold returns with freshman Hannah MacKenzie as the back-up. Gold
split time with the graduated Meg Brody before Brody took over the full-time post in the post-season.
Seven starters having graduated, and an eighth, Katie Ponce, is lost for the season
with a torn ACL. The defense is revamped with the graduation of Grace McKenzie and Becca Kape. Gagliano and Maguire were subs last season. Kronick, however, has never played defense and will move into the central defense. Kronick was the team's second-leading scorer last year. Kronick is already committed to John Hopkins.
"It's a big move,'' said Schmidt. "But we graduated all three of our defenders. She's excited about trying out a new position."
Schmidt has also modified his offense. Costello and Kerr will be expected to have
some big goal numbers, with Landeka helping as a play maker.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
