MAPLEWOOD, NJ – After winning the Super Essex Conference-Liberty Division regular season title last fall, the Columbia High School girls’ varsity soccer team has moved up to the SEC-American Division, which is the top division of the conference this year.
Despite losing 13 players to graduation, the Cougars have several returnees, hoping to be competitive in their new division.
“Our goal this year is to remain one of the top teams in the American Division,” said head coach Ashley Corino, whose team finished 9-7-3 overall last season. “We moved up last year from the Liberty Division, after winning the conference, and are seeded as the number four (team) in the American Division.”
The Cougars defeated Newark Academy, 1-0, in the season opener Sept. 7 in a SEC-American Division game at DeHart Park. Ava del la Torre, a freshman forward, scored the goal, on an assist from junior center midfielder Meredith Meyer. Hannah Williams had four saves for the shutout.
Williams, a senior, made First Team All-SEC-Liberty last year.
Other key returning players are junior defender Naomi Joseph (First Team all-conference), senior defender/midfielder Michelle Aguero, Meyer (Second Team all-conference), and junior midfielder Ceci Munoz (Honorable Mention all-conference).
Freshman midfielder Katherine Meyer also is in the mix.
The Cougars have a strong defense. Leading the defensive unit are Mimi Joseph and Aguero, supported by Williams in goal. “Mimi has incredible foot skills and knowledge of the game that will give her the ability to structure the defense from the back,” Corino said. “Michelle Aguero is changing positions, moving to play center back in our defense. Michelle is one of our most consistently solid players on our team. She is not only very talented, but always leaves it all on the field.
“Our goalkeeper, Hannah Williams, will again be backbone of our team. This gives us, yet again, a very strong defensive front.”
Meredith Meyer plays a pivotal part of the team’s offense as a center midfielder.
For the Cougars, the key to success will be creating team chemistry.
“We again have a young group of girls matched with some veteran players, so the key will be to get our girls to work together so well they can anticipate each other’s movements,” Corino said.
Corino is in her fourth year as CHS head coach. The assistant coaches are Meghin Meade (varsity assistant); Elizabeth Savoia (JV coach) and Meghan Kerns (freshman coach).
Columbia HS girls’ soccer team boasts strong defense; seeks to develop chemistry this season added by Joe Ragozzino on
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