Central Girls Set Their Sights On B South ... And More

The conversation moves around the half-circle quickly, the girls finishing each other’s sentences and moving from thought to thought seamlessly, like sisters who’ve shared a lifetime together.

These young women aren’t sisters in the traditional sense. But the group – seniors on the Central Regional girls soccer squad – are as close as sisters because they have spent years playing the sport together.

With their final year of high school before them, their own expectations are high.

“We want to go all the way,” said Gina Raneri, the others nodding in agreement.

To a player, they believe they can do it, especially if they can reach their other collective goal:

“We want to finish the season healthy,” Kristi Stebila said.

It may sound like an odd goal, but for a team that lost three key players to late-season injuries in 2010 – Samantha Jensen to a broken leg, and Gina Raneri and Chelsea Salvemini to anterior cruciate ligament injuries – finishing the season without any injuries matters.

“It’s scary,” Raneri said, of returning to the field after the injury. “You’re afraid you’re going to hurt it again.” But she and the others said that fear was subsiding some as time passed.

With 10 seniors returning, coach Kristee Paknis believes they have a solid core and believes the team will compete for the Shore Conference Class B South crown. That will mean beating Brick Township – which has become a nemesis in recent years – as well as perpetual rival (and B South contender) Lacey.

“It’s whether we can put it all together,” Paknis said, noting that some of the players – most notably Jensen – have changed positions since last year. Jensen, who controlled the defense at sweeper last year, has been moved up to the front line.

Jensen is joined up front by junior Brittni Calleo. The midfielders include Raneri, Salvemini, Stebila and senior Gina Cowdrick, as well as juniors Shannon Eadiccio and Heather Smith and sophomore Lizzy Kroon.

The defense in front of senior goalkeeper Tianna Worden, who had eight shutouts and 146 saves in 2010, is solid, with Kristina Buhagiar, Alexa DeRose, Courtney Mahnken and Megan Hubbard.

“I know I can count on them,” Worden said, “It’s very comfortable having them there.”

“She’s good at what she does,” Hubbard said. “She’s saved our butts many times.”

Sophomore Lindsey Mahnken is Worden’s backup.

Adding to the mix are the strong additions of freshmen Erin Trapp and Amanda Carolan. Carolan has a powerful shot and is penciled in at forward. Trapp, a defender, saw significant playing time in a scrimmage against Absegami and demonstrated why she earned her spot on the varsity squad, beating the Braves to the ball or applying so much pressure that they lost it when she didn’t get to the ball first.

“They killed us last year (in a scrimmage),” said Paknis, who was pleased with Central’s 2-1 victory. Kroon had a goal and assisted on a goal by Jensen. Cowdrick had the assist on Kroon’s goal.  Worden had 14 saves and Central outshot Absegami 16-15.

The season opens Monday, Sept. 12 with a home game against Brick – a sure test of just how cohesive they’ve become.