2003

2006 New Providence Girls Soccer

Courier News Per-Season Report

Mountain Vally Conference - New Providence

Division: Valley

Coach: Scott Murphy, fourth season - 2005 record; 13-5

Forwards: Melissa Thomson (Sr.), Kim Closs (Fr.), Katherine Nadelberg (Sr.), Rachel Schlabohm (Fr.), Robin Farrell (So.), Holly Tucker (So.).

Midfielders: Tara Alberse (Sr.), Jenna Bulzacchelli (Jr.), Sarah Lowe (Jr.), Alera Lesnewich (Fr.), Laura Schiels (Jr.).

Defenders: Kate Lesnewich (Sr.), Alex Ameen (Jr.), Melissa Fink (Jr.), Megan Smith (Jr.), Caitlin Sneeden (So.), Amy Marchisio (Fr.), Becky Arthur (Sr.).

Goalkeepers: Sarah Richter (Sr.), Connie Haggerty (Fr).

Outlook: New Providence, which graduated five key starters who were on the 2003 Group I co-championship team, won the Mountain Valley Conference Valley Division for the second straight season last year, fell in first round of the Group II Tournament and checked out in the first round of the county tournament. Thomson and Closs will be looked toward to lead the offense, while Alberse, who tallied seven goals and 11 assists last season, is back at center-midfield to get things started. Ameen will be the defensive leader, while Richter and Haggerty could both see time in the net, as Richter is recovering from a broken a leg and late to join pre-season practices.

Game 1 - Tuesday September 12th - New Providence 5, RC 0

Star Ledger Article

Robin Farrell and Tara Al-berse each scored two goals and Melissa Thompson had three assists for New Providence (1-0) in Roselle. Kim Closs added a goal while Sarah Richter and Connie Haggerty combined for five saves. Roselle Catholic is 0-2.

Courier News Article

Senior middie Tara Alberse had two goals and an as-sist and sophomore forward Robin Farrell had two goals as New Providence rolled.

NEW PROVIDENCE (1-0) .....................................4 1-5

ROSELLECATHOLIC (0-2)................................... 0 0-0

GOALS: Closs, Alberse 2, Farrell 2.

ASSISTS: Alberse, Thomson 3.

SAVES: NP-Richter 3; RC--Hague 21.

Game 2 - September 18th - New Providence 7, Brearley 0

Star Ledger Article

Robin Farrell scored twice and Katherine Nadelberg, Sarah Lowe and Melissa Thomson each added a goal and an assist for New Providence (2-0) in New Providence. Kim Closs and Alex Ameen also scored for New Provi-dence. Brearley is 0-2

Game 3 - September 19th - New Providence 7, Roselle Park 0

Game 4 - September 20th - New Providence 2, Cranford 5

Star Ledger Article

Ashley DiRocco paced Cranford with two goals and two assists, while Erin Leonard added two goals, Jessica Pheney and Dana Malangone each added a score and Sam Guidon contributed two assists. New Providence was fu-eled by goals from Robin Farrell and Melissa Thomas.

Game 5 - September 26th - New Providence 8, Hillside 0

Star Ledger Article

Kim Closs chalked up a pair of goals to lead seven different play-ers in the scoring column for New Providence (4-1) in New Provi-dence. Robin Farrell, Tara Al-berse, Rachel Schlobohm, Me-lissa Thomson, Jenna Bulzac-chelli and Amy Marchisio all scored for New Providence. Hill-side is 0-5.

Game 6 - September 28th - New Providence 3, Rahway 1

Star Ledger Article

Kim Closs scored a goal in each half and Melissa Thomson as-sisted on Closs' first goal and scored on a pass from Caitlin Sneeden to help New Providence (5-1) build a 3-0 lead in Rahway. Carley Romeo converted a pen-alty kick in the 68th minute for Rahway (1-3-1).

Courier News Article

Freshman forward Kim Closs netted two goals and senior forward Melissa Thomson added another as New Provi-dence improved to 5-1. Senior keeper Sarah Richter made 11 saves in the victory.

NEW PROVIDENCE (5-1) ..............................2 1-3

RAHWAY (1-3-1) ..............................................0 1-1

GOALS: NP--Closs 2, Thomson; R-Romeo.

ASSISTS: NP--Thomson, Sneeden, Nadelberg

SAVES: NP-Richter 11; R-Schall4, Harbienko 6

Game 9 - October 5th - New Providence 2, Johnson 1

Star Ledger Article

Tara Alberse flashed a through ball to Katherine Nadelberg in the 48th minute and Nadelberg fin-ished with a near-post conversion from inside the 18 to boost New Providence to a 2-1 victory over Johnson yesterday in New Provi-dence.

New Providence (8-1) scored first when Jenna Bulzacchelli as-sisted Rachel Schlobohm in the 23rd minute. Erin Butterly an-swered with the tying goal for Johnson (5-3) just two minutes later. Connie Haggerty stopped 17 shots and earned the victory in her first start in place of injured starter Sarah Richter. Brittany Murray logged 13 saves for Johnson.

Courier News Article

Senior for-ward Katherine Nadelberg broke a 1-1 tie 7:10 into the second half, assisted by senior midfielder Tara Alberse, and New Providence held on. Freshman keeper Connie Hag-gerty, filling in for injured senior Sarah Richter, made 17 saves in her first varsity start for New Providence.

A.L JOHNSON (5-3) ..........................................1 0-1

NEW PROVIDENCE (8-1) .....................................1 1-2

GOALS: AU-Butterty; NP-Schlobohm, Nadelberg

ASSISTS: NP-Alberse, Bulzacchelli.

SAVES: AU-Murray 13; NP-Haggerty 17

Game 10 - October 9th - New Providence 0, Gov. Livingston 3

Star Ledger Article

Gov. Livingston 3, New Providence 0: Amy Ronner scored a nifty goal from Danielle Ivancich's centering pass in the fifth minute to give Gov. Livingston (7-2-1) a 1-O lead in New Providence. Ka-tarina Kingston and Krista Lesnewich added second-half goals for Gov. Living-ston, which received five saves from Kris-ten Masullo for her sixth shutout. New Providence is 8-2.

Courier News Article

Junior striker Amy Ronner, freshman midfielder Katarina Kingston and senior fullback Krista Lesnewich scored goals Monday as the Gover-nor Livingston High School girls soccer team topped New Provi-dence 3-0. Freshman keeper Kristen Ma-sullo made four saves to earn the shutout, while freshman Connie Haggerty stopped five shots for New Providence.

NEWPROVIDENCE (8-2)...................................... 0 0-0

GOVERNOR LIVINGSTON (7-2-1) ......................1 2-3

GOALS: Ronner, IGngston,lesnewich.

ASSIST: Ivancich.

SAVES: NP-Haggerty 5; GL-MasuIM 4.

Saturday October 14th - New Providence 4, Union 1

Union County Tournament

Star Ledger Article

Kim Closs scored twice for sixth -seeded New Providence (9-2), which opened a 3-0 halftime lead in a Union County Tournament first-round match in New Provi-dence. Katherine Nadelberg and Robin Farrell also scored for New Providence while Jenna Bulzac-chelli and Tara Alberse contrib-uted one assist each and Connie Haggerty made 10 saves. Ashley DelValle connected for 11th-seeded Union (7-5-1).

Courier News Article

Freshman forward Kim Closs scored two goals, while senior forward Katherine Nadelburg added a goal and an assist for sixth-seeded New Providence. Freshman keeper Connie Hag-gerty stopped seven shots for New Providence, which plays third -seeded Cranford next Saturday at Governor Livingston High School.

UNION(7-5-1).......................................................0 1-1

NEW PROVIDENCE (9-2) ................................3 1-4

GOALS: U-DeNalle; NP---Closs 2, Nadelberg, Farrell.

ASSISTS: U-Foushee; NP-Nadelberg, 8ulvacchelli, Alberse.

SAVES: U-Luciano 12; NP-Haggerty 7.

Game 12 - October 19th - New Providence 1, Union Catholic 2

Star Ledger Article

Amanda Dalton scored the win-ning goal two minutes into double overtime to lead Union Catholic past New Providence, 2-1, yester-day in Scotch Plains. Jessica Gadilanes struck first for Union Catholic (11-1-1) with an as-sist from Dalton in the 30th min-ute. Sarah Lowe scored for New Providence (8-3) in the 55th minute unassisted to tie the game. Melissa McGintock made eight stops in goal for Union Catholic while Con-nie Haggerty notched 15 saves for New Providence.

Courier News Article

Sophomore forward Amanda Dalton knocked in a shot from 12 yards out in the 93rd minute for Union Catholic.

Jessica Gavilanes gave Union Catholic a 1-O lead in the first half, and New Providence tied the score 15 minutes into the second half.

NEW PROVIDENCE (9-3) ...........................0 1 0 0-1

UNION CATHOLIC (11-1-1) ........................1 0 0 1-1

GOALS: UC-Gavilanes, Dallon.

ASSISTS: UC-Dalton, Roth.

SAVES: UCwlcClintack 10

Game 13 - October 23rd - New Providence 0, Cranford 4

Union County Tournament - Quarter Finals

Star Ledger Article

Brittany McGinley scored three goals and Danielle Keim contrib-uted one goal to lift third-seeded Cranford to a 4-0 victory over sixth- seeded New Providence in the quarterfinals of the 26th Union County Tournament last night at Memorial Field in Cranford.

McGinley got the first goal at 8:22 when she took an Erin Leon-ard feed and deftly weaved be-tween three defenders before strik-ing. Four minutes later, McGinely gathered a rebound and blasted a left-footed shot that glanced off a defender into the net. Keim con-nected at 45:30 and McGinley fin-ished her evening at 62:56 by con-verting a Sam Guidon assist.

"Last year we had a pretty rough season," McGinley said. "I don't think anyone expected a lot of us who came back. I don't think many people expected us to get this far when the season started. But we knew we had to keep work-ing had and it would pay off."

Erika Baumann marked four saves for Cranford, which outshot New Providence, 21-5. Connie Hag-gerty recorded 13 saves for New Providence.

Game 14 - October 24th - New Providence 9, Hillside 0

Star Ledger Article

Kelly Closs scored her first goal of the season and finished with three, while Rachel Schlobohm contributed two goals and an as-sist to fuel New Providence (10-4) in Hillside. Tara Alberse, Jenna Bulzacchelli, Robin Farrell and Ankati-Patel scored one goal each. Hillside is 0-11.

Courier News Article

Kelly Closs scored three goals, while Rachel Schlodohm added two goals for New Providence. Tara Alberse tallied a goal for New Providence

NEWPROVIDENCE (10-4).................................... 9 0-9

HILLSIDE(0-11)................................................0 0-0

GOALS: Closs 3, Schlodohm2, Alberse, Bulzacchelli, Patel, Farrell.

ASSISTS: Schlodohm, Love, Tucker, Kocot, Marchisio, Lesnewich.

SAVES: NP-Haggerty 0; H-Harris 12.

Game 15 - October 27th - New Providence 8, Dayton 0

Star Ledger Article

GIRLS SOCCER – Closs excels, lifts New Providence

Freshman Kim Closs finished with three goals and an assist to lead New Providence to an 8-0 vic-tory over Dayton yesterday in Springfield. Robin Farrell contributed two goals and an assist for New Provi-dence (11-4) while Tara Alberse, Katherine Nadelberg and Rachel Schlobohm also scored. Stephanie Farber stopped 13 shots for Dayton (3-10).

Courier News Article

Kim Closs scored three goals, while Robin Farrell tallied two goals and added an as-sist for New Providence.

NEW PROVIDENCE (11-4) ..................................... 8 0-4

DAYTON (3-10) ..................................................0 0-0

GOALS: Closs 3, Farrell 2, Nberse, Nadelberg, Schlobohm.

ASSISTS: Alberse 2, Nadelhurg, Farrell, Closs, Lowe.

SAVES: NP-Haggerty 0, Narchisio 3; D-Fadber 13.

Game 16 - October 30th - New Providence 7, Roselle Catholic 0

Star Ledger Article

Katherine Nadelberg scored three goals and had one assist to pace New Providence (12-4) in New Providence. Tara Alberse and Rachel Scholbohm each had a goal and an assist, while Kim Closs and Robin Farrell both scored once. Roselle Catholic is 5-11

Courier News Article

Senior for-ward Katherine Nadelberg scored three goals and senior forward Melissa Thomson contributed three assists for New Providence.

ROSELLE CATHOLIC (5-11).....................……….. 0 0-0

NEW PROVIDENCE (12-4) ............................….4 3-7

GOALS: Nadelberg 3, Nberse, Closs, Farrell, Schbbohm.

ASSISTS: Thomson 3, Nadelberg, Alberse, Schlobohm, Ameen.

SAVES: RC--Ortiz 12; NP-Haggerty 3.

Game 17 - October 31st - New Providence 2, Kent Place 1

Star Ledger Article

Melissa Thomson's header off a pass from Alex Ameen at 58:58 snapped a 1-1 deadlock for New Providence in New Providence. Katherine Nadelberg's unassisted goal at 54:43 provided a 1-0 lead for New Providence (12-4), which got four saves from Connie Hag-gerty. Cassie Change notched the equalizer 13 seconds later off a pass from Kesi Irvin for Kent Place (14-4).

Courier News Article

Thomson lifts New Providence past Kent Place

Staff report

NEW PROVIDENCE - Senior for-ward Melissa Thomson took a pass from junior defender Alex Ameen and scored the game-winner in the 61st minute Thursday afternoon to lift the New Providence High School girls soccer team to a 2-1 regular-season victory over Kent Place. Senior forward Katherine Nadelberg put New Providence on the board with a goal in the 55th minute.

KENT PLACE (13-4) ......................................... 0 1-1

NEW PROVIDENCE (13-4)...............…........……...... 0 2-2

GOALS: KP-Warshaw; NP-Nadelberg, Thomson.

ASSISTS: KP-Irvin; NP-Ameen.

SAVES: KP-Gudirie 7; NP-Haggerty 6.

Game 18 - November 2nd - New Providence 0, Rumson-Fair Haven 4

State Tournament - Quarter Finals

Star Ledger Article

Freshman Mary Solinine scored twice in the second half for sixth-seeded Rumson (10-5-3), which ended third-seeded New Provi-dence's season at 13-5. Connie Haggerty stopped 15 shots for New Providence.

Courier News Article

Goalie Con-nie Haggerty stopped 16 shots for third-seeded New Providence.

Rumson – Fair Haven (9-5-1)………………………………0 4-4

NEW PROVIDENCE (13-5)…………………………….……0 0-0

GOALS: Atkinson 2, Belmonte, Solimine.

ASSISTS: Atkinson, Abbot, Cabasso.

SAVES: R - Murphy 3; NP - Haggerty 16.

Independent Press Article

NEW PROVIDENCE - Heart - Pioneer Trails by ERIC WEISS

Many athletes say they have it, even more want it, but few truly know how to use it. Heart is a characteristic found deep inside an athlete who will emerge when most needed by his/her team. Many athletes buckle when they feel pressure from their teammates or coach-es, but those who have heart fight on and reach the apex of their sport.

The halls of New Providence High School are lined with trophies emblazoned with the names of athletes who were able to leave fear behind and fight on, but none of these trophies

explain the heart that one member of the NPHS girls soccer team possesses.

Sarah Richter became the starting goalkeeper for the Lady Pioneers after they graduated one of the state's best goalies in Lauryn Dempsey. However, Miss Richter was not fazed by that daunting task and led her team to a State Section championship as a sophomore, having beaten out several upperclassman to earn the starting keeper position that 2004 fall.

Throughout her high school career, Richter constantly put her body on the line; diving for every ball, getting in the middle of every jam in front of the cage, and attacking any breakaways that would dare approach her. This aggressive style of play enabled Sarah to rack up 32 wins in (what turned out to be) just slightly more than two seasons as the varsity netminder. Richter received second-team All-Union County recognition and first-team All-Mountain/Valley Conference honors as a junior last autumn, confirming the large amount of respect opposing coaches had for her skills.

However, during the spring of Sarah's junior year, tragedy struck a person who least deserved it. While playing in a club soccer match, she broke her tibia sacrificing her body once again for the good of her team.

It was a rather traumatic break. Sarah was forced to be in a cast for 12 weeks during which she (obviously) could do no athletic activi-ty, since she was unable to walk. Many athletes, even great ones, would have packed in their upcoming varsity season, perhaps worried about performing at their accustomed level. However, if anyone thought that Sarah Richter was this type of athlete, they would be dead wrong.

Throughout last summer, "Ricky" pushed herself through pain and torment so she could be physically and mentally prepared to return as New Providence's goalkeeper, exuding the heart that's rubbed off on all her teammates. As a captain, Sarah is credited with being the Pioneers' leader. Indeed, she's even cited as NP's "resident author" in view of the motivational words she expresses prior to virtually every game.

However, three weeks ago in a match against Kent Place, lightning struck again. Sarah fractured her leg in the same exact spot.

Devastation is perhaps the only word that could describe the feeling in most athletes' stomachs if they suffered the same demoralizing injury under the same circumstances it had previously occurred. Many might never be able to return to their teams because of traumatic flashbacks which would come to mind. But once again, this could never be Sarah Richter.

Richter has continued her role as the team leader and is known as "the nurturer." She is the person to whom every member of the team turns when there's any sort of duress.

"Sarah is our best player - on and off the field - even when she isn't playing!" declared senior classmate and team-mate Kate Lesnewich. "We still feel her presence on the field."

Richter has essentially become an `assistant coach' for the final two-thirds of this 2006 season, taking the new NP keeper under her wing and showing freshman Connie Haggerty how to play like a champion - as Sarah did for so many games.

Writing this column makes me realize that Sarah Richter stands for all that is good and pure in the world. Sarah stared adversity in the face, and she beat it back with class and dignity. Sarah is a true athlete and leader about whom words could never fully describe the amazing person she is.

Not only does Richter excel in her leadership and performance on the soccer pitch, but she's also regarded as one of the best artists in New Providence High School - spending up to five hours a night on assign-ments for her Advanced Placement Art Class. To fully describe Sarah, I asked the help of her coaches, Scott Murphy and Tracey Blanchard. Here is their response:

"Sarah is the essence of a champion on the field, but in reality she is so much more when you know her as a person. `Ricky' is a diamond in the rough, and we are lucky to have her in our soccer program and in our hearts. Each game we play, we play for `number 6' - her uniform numeral years ago when she used to be a field player and which she always wears under her goalkeeper shirt."

Editors note: Eric is a senior at New Providence High School.