Shore girls capture their first-ever division title By Richard Jerome Staff Writer Looking toward the upcoming Central Jersey Group II tournament, the Shore Regional High School girls’ soccer team slated a couple of tune-up games with tough opponents this week. On Wednesday evening, the 9-4-1 Blue Devils faced off against Red Bank, while today they meet Ocean, which earlier this fall topped them in the Shore Conference Tournament finale, 3-1. According to head coach Mike Migliorisi, he has enjoyed coaching this Blue Devils team because of the effort they give every time out, and the overall team attitude that each player presents. "There’s a lot to like with this team," said Migliorisi, a second-year coach. "It wasn’t necessarily a strong program, and we have a lot of younger kids. But this is a very good group of girls. "There’s no such thing as me or I," he added. "In fact, in my 10 years of coaching they’re the nicest girls I’ve coached. Very polite, they always play strong but clean." Skillwise, the defense has been dominant, with senior goalkeeper Laura Martin having recorded eight shutouts in the Blue Devils’ nine victories. Other clutch defenders include senior Michelle Sacco, the stopperback, and a rotation of fullbacks that includes senior Nicole Walstein and several sophomores; Jessie Brazina, Claire Goyette, Kaitlin Hampton and Christina Harris. But Migliorisi added that the offense has shown improvement throughout the season, which is another strong sign for the future of the team. "Offensively, sophomore Kristin Brady and freshman Melissa Lehman are our leading scorers," says Migliorisi, noting that each of the pair has a half-dozen goals. "Junior Halfback Kirsten Difenderfer has also contributed to our scoring." Joining Difenderfer at halfback is her sister Cara, a senior, along with junior Jackie Grimes and a sophomore, Danielle Strollo. Migliorisi, who is assisted by Maureen Marz and junior varsity coach Steve Milkowski, hopes his team will use the two games this week to try different formations, and win, of course. But it’s clear that the states are very important to the Shore Regional squad. "We want to win our three games to make it to the end," he says. "The girls know that if they lose, they’re done for the season. And we’d like to get that championship banner to hang in the gym." The banner has been the motivating tool used by Migliorisi throughout the season, from the very first practice on. The Shore gymnasium has a number of championship banners hanging on its walls, just none from girls soccer. At 9-4-1 at the start of play this week, the Blue Devils had captured the Shore Conference Class B Central crown for the first time in school history. And their 7-2 divisional record helped separate them from second-place Colts Neck (10-4-2, 6-2-2), a team which has really come on as the season progressed. Behind the Cougars is a young, yet strong Rumson-Fair Haven team at 6-6-2. But the division crown is just the beginning for Migliorisi’s squad. He has taken a program which to this point had struggled, never eclipsing the .500 mark, and given them a legitimate shot at a run for the Central Jersey Group II title.