NUTLEY, NJ – The Nutley High School girls’ varsity soccer team has emerged as one of the best in Essex County with a stellar 9-2-1 record through Oct. 13.
The Raiders, under fifth-year head coach Mike DiPiano, are the No. 2 seed in the Essex County Tournament behind Livingston. Nutley received byes in the preliminary round and first round and is scheduled to play in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Glotzbach Field at 2 p.m. against either No. 10 seed West Orange, No. 7 seed Montclair Kimberley Academy, or No. 18 seed Cedar Grove.
The semifinals are scheduled for Oct. 26 at Belleville High School. The championship game is Sunday, Oct. 30, at Montclair State University at noon.
The Raiders have been led by senior and University of Connecticut-bound Zoe Steck, who became the program’s all-time goal-scoring leader this season. Steck set the mark when she scored three goals in the 4-0 win over Verona on Sept. 23 at Father Glotzbach Field, giving her 80 for her career. The old mark of 79 was held by 2015 graduate Victoria Kealy. Since then, Steck scored 10 goals in the next five games to bring her total to 90 for her career through Oct. 13.
Steck is one of the top goal-scorers in the state this season with 24 goals to go along with five assists and through Oct. 13.
Other leading scorers for the Raiders are senior Jenny Callaghan (four goals and six assists) and junior Isabella Gonsiewski (two goals and 10 assists).
The Raiders started the season 6-0-1, as they beat Caldwell, Montclair Kimberley Academy, West Orange, Glen Ridge, Millburn and Verona and tied Cranford.
They lost to a highly-regarded Montclair team, 4-3, in overtime on Sept. 26 at Father Glotzbach Field for their first defeat. Steck had two goals and junior Maisie Jelley had the other goal. Freshman Samantha Gabrielle, and seniors Darby Fischer and Callaghan each had an assist.
Steck netted a whopping five goals to power the Raiders to a 6-1 win over Belleville on Sept. 28 in Belleville. Jelley had the other goal. Fischer had two assists and senior Angeli Bossbaly, Callaghan, Gonsiewski, and sophomore Danielle Lohf each had one assist. Junior goalie Jillian DeSantis and sophomore Alessandra Santoriello each had two saves.
The Raiders then lost to an undefeated Livingston team, 1-0, Oct. 5 in Livingston.
NHS regrouped the next day to defeat Newark Academy, 4-2, at Monsignor Owens Field. Steck had two goals and two assists; sophomore Giulia Polewka and Gabrielle each had one goal and Gonsiewski had one assist. DeSantis made three saves and Santoriello recorded four saves.
Callaghan had a goal and assisted on Steck’s goal in the 2-0 win at Union on Oct. 13. Gonsiewski assisted on Callaghan’s goal. DeSantis made five saves.
The Raiders, indeed, are looking to make strong runs in the county and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association North Jersey Section 1, Group 3 tournaments.
“The team is doing well, playing very good soccer,” said DiPiano. “After a small break in the schedule, games will be picking up, and we are preparing for the stretch run. The goal is to play deep in the ECT (Essex County Tournament) and the state sectional tournament. The girls have set goals to win a county and sectional championship and both are attainable goals. It will not be an easy road, but we are battle tested and ready for the challenge.”
Nutley HS girls’ soccer team kicks up stellar success added by Joe Ragozzino on
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