10/31/2011 - Christensen, Wildcats Roar
Once the ball left Jamie Christensen foot you knew it had a chance.
The talented defender from High Point has one of the most lethal long kicks in the business and when she alertly stepped up on a ball Belvidere was trying to clear, you knew the County Seaters were in trouble.
But as the ball began its high-arching journey to the back of the Belvidere net, Christensen, who was named the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Girls Soccer Tournament Most Valuable Player two years ago as a sophomore, wasn’t thinking about herself.
No, as High Point topped the County Seaters 1-0 for a thrilling overtime win for the title at Anthony Macerino Stadium at Vernon Township High School, Christensen was thinking about her teammates, especially one of teammates, classmate Lexie Brennan.
Brennan, who blew out her knee earlier in the week against Vernon and is lost for the season, was sitting all bundled up on the bench as the Wildcats celebrated the winning goal on the field.
The Wildcats surrounded Christensen, but once she was able to get loose, she made a b-line to Brennan and gave her fallen comrade a huge hug and told her the game was for her.
Good stuff.
Christensen’s teammates all followed suit as one-by-one they hugged Brennan as the snow started to fall.
It was a great scene to witness and really shows the true character of this bunch from High Point (14-2-2) who have now won 14 straight games and are playing their best soccer of the season despite the loss of Brennan, a dynamic presence on the front line for the Cats.
“It’s unbelievable the roll we are on right now,” said Christensen. “The motivation is definitely for Lexie. She hurt her ACL and we just wanted to play for her and win for her.”
And that they did.
High Point went all the way down to Flemington to face Group 4 behemoth Hunterdon Central two days after Brennan’s injury and the Cats stunned the Red Devils, like they did in the H/W/S final two years ago, 3-1 in the semifinals.
Lauren Hayes came up big with a couple of goals in the semis and the depth of the squad, developed by High Point’s outstanding coach Jason Potzer, really shone through against HC and in the final against Belvidere.
In fact, in the final, Saige Aikens, a key member of the club, suffered a head injury early in the first half and was replaced by Stephanie Smolen, who would start for most teams in the area.
Starting in place of Brennan was Janine Hlavaty (Sorry for butchering your name on the Game of the Week!) who did a great job and the transition was seamless.
But this group of seniors, many who played on the championship team two years ago as sophomores, are not only fine soccer players, but mentally tough.
A lot of teams would have folded their tents when a player of Brennan’s caliber went down. Or better yet, when the Cats started the season 0-2-2 and could not buy a goal, the Cats did not give up.
No, not this group. They found a way to bounce back and since losing to Pope John 3-2 in September this group has been on a mission.
The Wildcats slow start, in my opinion, can be attributed to two factors. The first one being the high expectations this bunch had coming into the season. Everyone pointed to the Wildcats as the team to beat in the county and in the American Division of the NJAC.
Pressure like that can hinder a team, especially when you are the hunted and not the hunter. There is a whole different dynamic in play.
The other was Hurricane Irene. The High Point sending district was hit extremely hard and the Wildcats had to alter their plans during preseason camp due to flooding, bad field conditions and power outages (Sound familiar?).
That is all behind High Point right now. The Cats are like a fine-oiled machine with outstanding keeper Brianna Blair closing in on Sasha Scott’s record for shutouts in a season.
The defense paced by Christensen, Brooke Derin, who shut down two of the top players in West Jersey last week in Cora Littlejohns of HC and Christine Nechay of Belvidere, Lauren Johnson and Eric Millazzo has been a steeltrap, allowing just two goals in the tourney run.
Then there is the wonderful midfield play of Sam Ritter, the catalyst to this club on both ends of the field. Add in promising sophomore Gabby Genetelli, Aikens and snipers Hayes and Brianne Woop up top and you have the makings of a championship team.
You also need a bench and role players and the Cats have that too in Smolen, Hlavaty, Rachel Stormes, Erin Woop, Mary Kate Sinclair, Alyssa Marcine and reserve keeper Meghan Arnold, who like Smolen would start for many teams in the area.
Add in the guiding force of Potzer and his fine staff of Mike Hingston and Marc Veltri and the Wildcats have it all.
The other ingredient that the Cats possess is experience, something you can’t put a price on.
After winning the tourney two years ago, the Cats bowed out in the first round of states. To a player and a coach, they vow that won’t happen again and they want to make some noise as the fifth seed in North 1, Group 3 and I think they will.
So congratulations, Wildcats for doing yourselves, High Point and the county proud. And good luck in states, but with the way you have been playing, I don’t think you need any.
MAGIC MARK…A belated congrats to the dean of Sussex County soccer coaches John Ryan of Vernon for posting his 400th career win last week against High Point.
In 32 seasons, Ryan is now 401-184-52 with 10 Sussex County Interscholastic titles, and one section championship in 1985.
In his 32 seasons, the Vikings have qualified for the states an amazing 31 times.
Wow.
Those who know Ryan know how much soccer means to him. It is in his blood and the countless players that have played for him are not only better players but better people for having played for the master.
JUST A REMINDER…The Sussex County Sports Hall of Fame will be holding its induction dinner Nov. 4 at Farmstead at 6:30 p.m. This year’s class is Shannon Sweeney of High Point (hoops), Mickey Thomas of High Point (wrestling and coaching) and Melissa Soroka Williams of Pope John (softball, field hockey, indoor track).
The Veterans Committee will induct Harold Clark of Franklin and Robert Gregory of Newton.
For tickets contact the Hall or any member of the Hall.
That’s it for now see you on the sidelines.
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