Sophomore Joanna Gonzalez has won the starting job at goalie. Marissa Presby and Ciara DeAlmeida, who are juniors, complete group of returnees. The defensive unit is led by senior Jenna Goldberg. Junior Kat DeLuca adds depth at the position. Like the other returnees, they are experienced seniors. Sophomore Nina Rivera gained valuable playing time last season.Īt midfield alongside Niro and Rotondo, Bri Waring, Marissa Gross and Jackie Gotthold are all back. While the team has youth, Manalapan does have a lot of experience back from 2015, led by attackers Amanda DeMatteo, Emily Chung and Emil Gresco, who are seniors. They go through every drill 100 miles an hour.” “They are great role models for all the players on the team. Eisman noted that they enjoy assisting on a score more than scoring. It’s not the goal-scoring that is impressive about the midfielders, but it is instead their unselfish play. Niro entered the season with 109 career tallies and has 16 on the season.

Rotondo ranks among the state leaders in goals scored (19) and has surpassed 100 for her career. They have gotten off to remarkable starts. Those seniors include the Braves’ irrepressible midfielders, Carly Niro and Erin Rotondo.

“We have a very young and inexperienced team with some terrific seniors who have had terrific careers.” “We expect to have great chemistry as a team and always play for each other,” Eisman said. The Braves certainly did that last spring and despite some youth (seven sophomores), they seem poised to take the next step and challenge defending champion Wall High School, perennial winner Freehold Township and Howell High School for the top spot in the division. “To compete for A North and to be competitive in every game that we play.” “Our expectations remain the same, as always,” Eisman said.

Coming off a season in which the Braves (12-6) closed the gap between themselves and the best teams in the Shore Conference A North Division (first win over seven-time champion Freehold Township High School), head coach Kerry Eisman expects more of the same in 2016.

Freehold township high school lacrosse