By tim morris
Staff Writer

FARRAH MAFFAI Brookdale’s Amanda Beck of Red Bank Regional works with the ball during a recent practice in Lincroft.

Having five returning starters, four of whom made all-conference and all-region, from a team that fell one game short of a trip to the nationals is enough to make the Brookdale Community College women’s soccer team dangerous.

Add to that a superb recruiting class that includes Kean University (Union) transfer Deirdre Trujillo and the Jersey Blues suddenly become a powerhouse.

Head coach Frank Lawrence said this team has a chance to be the best team BCC has fielded.

"We have a really talented group," said Lawrence. "We have a more consistent level of talent, deeper than ever before."

The returners alone are enough to frighten teams. Honorable mention all-American Lauren Krzan leads the solid group of returnees. The Middletown South alumna netted 20 goals and garnered 14 assists last year, and that was without having a lot of support. Lawrence has taken care of that by securing the midfield and adding scoring power up front to complement his outstanding forward.

"Lauren worked extra hard to get her goals last year," said Lawrence. "She’s a known commodity and teams will be out to stop her, but she will have other threats up front this year with her."

Brookdale boasted one of the country’s best defenses a year ago, posting a school record 10 shutouts while going 11-6. Goalie Kristin Hirt, also a Middletown South alumna, and sweeper Katie Henriques, from Howell High, are returning. They were all-Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and all-Region 19 selections last year.

Hirt has a knack for making the right play at the right time.

"She reads the game well and has great technique," Lawrence said of his sophomore goalie. "Kristin plays the ball well. She comes out of the net and stops the through ball."

Defense was a concern for Lawrence at first, but he has taken care of that with a solid recruiting class while beefing up his offense.

"We have balanced scoring up front and consistency at midfield," he said. "There’s not as much pressure on the defense."

Sweeper Henriques is an outstanding, two-way player who can make plays on defense and start the transition to offense. Recruits Carly Calvert from Middletown South, Valerie Guzzi from Middletown North, and Nicole Lo Curto from Old Bridge have formed a solid unit, anchored by the presence of Henriques. Suddenly, defense is not longer a problem.

"We have strong defenders," Lawrence said.

Red Bank Regional grad Amanda Beck, an all-conference and all-region player in 2001, is returning as the mainstay of the flank midfield which includes Melissa Paul, a sophomore from Marlboro, Mallory Byrne, a freshman from Middletown North, and William Paterson (Paterson) transfer Caite Lomicky, a Raritan High School (Hazlet) grad.

Brookdale has made the biggest improvement in center midfield, where transfer Trujillo and freshman Allison Mulaney, from Howell, are providing the missing element to the team.

"Deirdre is a big-time athlete who can dominate center midfield," said Lawrence. "She can win possessions and then do something with [them].

"Last year we struggled in transition from defense to offense," he added. "In Deirdre and Allison, we have players who can play defense and go forward with the ball."

That is music to Krzan’s ears. She figures to have more scoring opportunities this year thanks to the improved midfield and the addition of freshmen Jenna Masiello of Marlboro, Kristen Knudsen from Middletown and Maria Lombardi of Freehold Township up front.

"Jenna is left-footed and has a shot that is difficult to defend, and Kristen has speed," said Lawrence. "Mari Lombardi will also help out in the scoring. We now have three players who can score consistently on the front line."

Freshmen Carly Calvert (defense/midfield), Middletown South, and Melissa Paul (midfield/defense) will add their versatility to the mix.

Brookdale was one game away from a trip back to the National Junior College Athletic Association national championships in 2001, losing the Region 19 final 2-1 to Mercer. The memory of that loss and being so close to a national championship berth is etched in the mind of every returning starter. They are determined to take the extra step this fall and, bolstered by the talented newcomers, the national tournament is a very strong possibility. It is well within the team’s reach.

Brookdale’s regular season began this week. As usual, Lawrence has presented his team with a challenging schedule that includes national powers like Anne Arundel (Maryland), which visits the Lincroft campus on Sept. 15 (game time: noon); Holyoke (Massachusetts) on Sept. 22; Rhode Island at home (Oct. 13, noon); and Nassau (New York) on Oct. 19.

The Jersey Blues’ first GSAC and Region 19 game will be Aug. 10 at home at 4 p.m. against Ocean County College, Toms River.

Other key conference and region games are: at Gloucester, Sept. 25; home against Mercer, Sept. 28 at noon; and at home against Essex, Oct. 2 at 3:30 p.m. The Region 19 Tournament final will be held in Lincroft on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. The tourney begins with the first round Oct. 28 and 29 at the site of the higher-seeded team. The semifinals will be held Oct. 30 and 31, again at the site of the higher-seeded team. The semifinal winners will travel to Brookdale for the Region 19 Championship Tournament.