Bulldogs soccer improves its record
BY SHAWN LAYTON Staff Writer
The Metuchen High School girls soccer team improved to 4-2 on the season with another impressive win, a 6-0 shutout of South River. After a tough 4-2 loss to Spotswood earlier in the week, the blowout of South River was just what the team needed to get back on track.

"We've had to toy around with different lineups due to some injuries to key players like goalkeeper Caitlin Walker and sweeper Hannah Thomas," Metuchen head coach Val Gazda said. "The kids are coming along every game, and that's nice to see."

The Dogs opened last week with a loss to Spotswood after taking a 2-0 lead against the unbeaten Chargers behind goals from Abby Dingle and Erica Otersen.

"The Spotswood game was an excellent game to watch," Gazda said. "We held them scoreless until the 30th minute of the first half. Once they scored, they really took command of the game. Our intensity level was there the entire game, but we just needed to buckle down a little bit at key moments in the game."

Metuchen had little problem buckling down against South River. Dingle led the scoring attack with a pair of goals while teammates Camilla Lapkiewicz, Jordan McVicker, Ellen Ryder and Claire Hampsey each added a score.

Sophomore goalie Valentina Gordon gave the Bulldogs another solid outing in place of the injured Walker. For Gordon, the transition to starting keeper has not always been easy.

Being saddled with some unfortunate injures has forced the Bulldogs to play several players out of position. a

"Incorporating a new keeper into the mix and playing people at different positions has been a challenge," Gazda said. "Jane Barrett, Susan Golbe, Molly Hampsey and Olenka Szynwelski left some pretty big shoes to fill when they graduated last year. So far, the team has responded to the challenge."

While Dingle has done her fair share of scoring this fall, Metuchen has gotten plenty of offense throughout the lineup. In the team's 6-0 win over Carteret earlier in the season, it was Lindsay Peragallo leading the team with two goals.

"We've consistently gotten scoring from a handful of players," Gazda said. "I'd much rather have three or four players scoring often than one player scoring a large percentage of our goals."

For the Bulldogs to have a shot at defending its Group I state title, it will need to control the midfield.

"My players understand the game has to be won in the midfield," Gazda said. "We still need to do a better job of controlling the middle of the field, and we need to be sure our defense is solid. Right now we're taking things a game at a time and waiting for some of our seniors to get over injuries."