UPDATED: Columbia HS girls soccer team seeks successful season

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — The Columbia High School girls soccer team, under first-year head coach and CHS alumna Sophie Hart-Ruderman, is looking to have a successful season despite an 0-2 start. CHS lost to Livingston, 3-0, Sept. 5, and Montclair, 4-0, Sept. 7.

The senior captains are midfielder/defender Grace Bratter, defenders Ellie Betheil and Sadie Tuhoy.

The captains will help to lead the way for the team’s success.

“Grace is an absolutely work horse,” said Hart-Ruderman, a 2008 CHS graduate who previously was the CHS girls soccer freshman coach. “She has good ability in the sport, and good leadership qualities, yet she is always looking for advice to improve her game.

“Ellie is our smallest defender on the field, but the last one that you do want to mess with; she is a tank, willing to take anyone attacking in her path.

“Sadie is the glue to our defense as well as our team. She is the voice of reason, on and off the field. She is one of the most composed players I have ever seen, and does not let anyone or thing get in her head.”

Hart-Ruderman also has confidence in senior goalie Emma Herrero.

“Her size and athleticism helps her make some incredible saves,” Hart-Ruderman said. “Her kicks and punts are a threat, always putting us onto the attacking half. She is a big key to our communication across the field.”

Junior midfielder Annabel Callahan has natural game sense, Hart-Ruderman said. “Her positioning is impeccable. She is aggressive and does not have a stop button. She is a force to be reckoned with on defensive end as well as attack.”

Other contributors are junior midfielder Svea Wickelgren and sophomore midfielder Elodie Reeves.

Hart-Ruderman said Wickelgren “is dangerous on the attack with her footwork, and if she is given any time or space you can count on her ripping shots. Elodie Reeves is the only player that was brought up as a freshman at the beginning of last season. She is calm, cool and collected. Her ball work and ability to feed the ball, as well as take long shots is what makes her a player to watch for. Her high school career has really just begun and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do.”

Here is the rest of the CHS schedule

Sept. 10, at East Side, 4 p.m.

Sept. 11, at Chatham, 4 p.m.

Sept. 13, at West Orange, 4 p.m.

Sept. 16, Nutley, 4 p.m.

Sept. 19, Bloomfield, 4 p.m.

Sept. 21, Union, 11:30 a.m.

Sept. 28, at West Essex, 10 a.m.

Oct. 2, Glen Ridge, 4 p.m.

Oct. 4, McNair Academy, 4:40 p.m.

Oct. 8, at Livingston, 3:45 p.m.

Oct. 14, Summit, 4 p.m.