The Franklin Reporter & Advocate Eight Villages, One Community
Standing (L to R)
Coach Hari Ramsubramani, Shreya Krishnan, Micaela Kraker, Sarah Hnasko, Kaitlin Kline, Macey Mento, Coach Odd Humlen, Sneha Santosh, Gabriela Delgado, Coach Dan Kline, Jayla Jennings, Sakeena Rahim, Devan Santiago, Coach Jim Hnasko, Hunter Samuel.
Kneeling (L to R)
Simone Thompson, Nicole Origenes, Peyton Coppola, Olivia Humlen, Daja Gordon, Elizabeth Gilfeather, Sonia Dalal, Simone Yanogacio, Colleen Doherty, Caroline Mwenda, Samika Hariharan
Missing
Shannon Kurtz, Coach Jen Burkhour
Two girls’ teams in the Franklin Township Soccer League won their divisions on Oct. 19 in the North Brunswick Soccer Club’s Spookarama soccer tournament.
The league’s The Force (U12) and the Lightning (U13) won their two-game flights in the tournament, in which the athletes dressed in Halloween costumes.
A rundown of the Force’s games was provided by coach Dan Kline:
“The format of the Spookarama Tournament allows the players to don costumes as they participate in the two scheduled games. The girls chose to be Minions, characters from the movie ‘Despicable Me.’
“The Force girls have enjoyed a good Fall season so far and were looking forward to the additional competition that the tournament provides. Their first match was scheduled against US Parma Attaccanti, aPremier Club team which had won their flight at a recent Tournament in South Brunswick. Coach Odd Humlen had the Force girls ready to go as they scored a few goals early, displaying great teamwork in the process. The team then used a strong defensive effort the rest of the way to win this match 3 to 1.
“Their second match came late in the day, after all the other games in their flight had been played. The team knew that if they won the game, they would win the flight. Their match was against one of the host teams, the North Brunswick Dynamites, which are led by a very strong goal keeper. The Dynamites’ keeper was very dominant throughout the early going as the score was 0-0 with 2 minutes to go in the first half. That is when Jayla Jennings followed up a shot, collected the rebound and scored to break the deadlock. The Force then scored again very quickly on a cross to Sneha Santosh who booted it in with her left to shake the nets and give the Force a 2 – 0 lead at the half. In the second half, the Force once again using a total team effort wore down the deflated Dynamites and coasted to a 5 to 0 win which gave them first place in their flight.”
Top row:
Mariya Davis, Kaira Brown, Morgan Maguire, Jenna Michell, Gabi Consiglio, Dani Lael, Nicole Kercado, Mamie Vandi
Bottom:
Kerrianna Younkins, Dunya Karimi, Gabby Negvesky, Jessica Teach, Lindsay Baum
Not pictured:
Lauren Sy Coaches: Sam Velu, Kurby Brown, and Tom Negvesky
Lightning coach Kurby Brown gave this account of his team’s victories:
“The Lightning entered the tournament undefeated on the season lead by a stout defense, having only given up two goals in nine games.
“That defensive run continued in the tournament as they defeated the Scotch Plains Sol 2-1, highlighted by a thundering goal from 20 yards out by Danica Lael and a nice finish from Gabriella Consiglio, only surrendering a rare goal late in the contest.
“In the second game the Lightning once again locked down on the defensive end and did not concede a goal in a 3-0 defeat of the Pennington Pumas, a team they had lost to in the three previous seasons.
“Great goals from Mamie Vandi, Gabriella Negvesky and Jenna Michell complimented the usual tough defense of Danica Lael, Kaira Brown, Jessica Teach and Nicole Kercado.
“The Keepers Dunya Karimi and Lindsey Baum as usual cleaned up any balls that found their way inside the 18.
“It was a great for the girls to get the first place trophy after finishing in second in the 2011 tournament.”
