The girls varsity soccer team’s current 7-0-1 has shown real dominance this season outscoring opponents 28-3. The CHSAA league hosts two additional strong Long Island teams in Kellenberg and Sacred Heart. They tied with Kellenburg this season and faced Sacred Heart on Friday Oct. 2nd at SH. The Friars remain undefeated vs. the Lady Spartans, going 5-0 in the last three years and know this will be one of their toughest games. The Friday game against Sacred Heart puts some pressure on the girls as they work toward their 3rd CHSAA championship title victory.
The girls proved to be an unstoppable force after defeating their biggest rival SH Friday 2-0. Seniors Sam Adams and Nicole Gordon again cultivated the sweet spot of a steady score stream, with Adams and Senior Brianna Jablonowski credited with the assists. Kaitlyn Mahoney carved an impressive seven saves and an over-the-crossbar save to keep the Spartans scoreless. Adams and Gordon are currently 1 & 2 respectively in points scoring both at 11 with Gorden having one less assist then Adams with 6.
Against a strong Kellenberg Senior Kylie McShea had to hold down 12 saves just to keep the powerful Friars offense at bay on September 19th. With the game ending in 0-0 tie, the two time CHSAA state champions have a bullseye on their back getting the best competition out of all their competitors when they play.
Jablonowski proved a reliable team member for the Friars, for the most recent games. She is currently the third leading point scorer in the league. In 2018 she helped her team clutch their 2nd victory CHSAA championship. The Virginia commit also scored a crushing 20 goals and six assists last season. Where she scored two goals from the 2018 state semifinals in a 3-0 championship games vs. Sacred Heart Academy.
Qualifying as one of the select 40 to play in the Allstate All-American Cup in Orlando, Jablonowski will break between midfield and forward this season, with her exceptional foot skills putting even her coach in amazement. This year’s season highlights strength from the core senior force on the field: Gordon, Mahoney, Victoria Mule, Adams and Jablonowski.
The girls soccer team will continue to guard these ground-breaking records, with the Iona commit defender and midfielder Mule who fearless attacking style on the offensive, scored an impressive two goals and three assists last year at league champs, Thanks to her agility and athleticism on the field she is a strong leader on the team.
Goalkeeper Mahoney was a very critical part toward the CHSAA State championships last year. The two-year starter never fails to stop the ball with her hand skills for her team’s sake, as well as leading her team with her vocal skills. She never hesitates to use her voice to help her team to the goldmine- or to step her foot off the line. The UConn Husky commit will prove to be an excellent vocal leader for her new team. She holds the number 2 spot on the leaderboard in saves with 56 this season.
“I think it’s a different type of hard. Each position has its job and mine is to be a leader as well as a force in the net.” responds senior Kaitlyn Mahoney when asked about the difficulty of her position and how it distinguishes from other positions.
“When the competition is intense I do find it hard but that’s what I love about the game. The challenge, the drive and the adrenaline rush of stepping out on the field or making a big time save is the best thing about the sport in my opinion.”
She redeems herself as enthusiastic and highly willing to take on the supplemental challenges which come with being the team’s goalkeeper.
Mahoney elaborates on how she works to overcome the challenges she recognizes on the field. “Everything one may try to accomplish in life may be hard at one time or another but it’s the effort put in and the desire to produce effective results that make it seem a little easier. My position may seem hard to others, but in turn it’s challenging aspects is what drove me to choose it in the first place.” What the girls will show at their home games will most likely assure the crowd the Friars are in good condition.
Come out and support the Friars in their next home game on Friday October 11th vs. Strongsville High School and Sunday vs. #19 McDonough High School.
Heather Occhino is a senior at St. Anthony’s, writing for her second year on Friar News. She is also a member of Creative Writing Club, Special Needs Ministry, Chorus and Theatre Arts. She plans to major in English for college and become a journalist.
