Soccer squads finish ‘09 strong with state tournament stands

Another year on the pitch ends with positive results for the Highland Park High School soccer programs.  Both the HPHS boys and girls soccer teams qualified for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I state tournament and picked up a victory in their respective brackets.

Freshman forward Jessie Dominick charges past two defenders. (Maggie Dominick)

On the girls side, head coach Chris Ruckdeschel and company enjoyed a 10-7-1 campaign, including a stellar 7-4-1 record in the Gold Division.  After a 1-0 home win in the sectional quarterfinals over Florence on a 70th minute penalty kick by senior Leah Salkin, HP bowed out to eventual champion Robbinsville 8-0 in the semifinals.

“We had a lot of chances in the quarterfinals,” Ruckdeschel said.  “After watching the tape, I felt better about the win because the referee definitely had to make that call.  Olivia [Saad] and Gwen [Dougherty] were playing through pain and it was all-out heart on the field.  That’s all I can ask for from a coach’s standpoint.”

Salkin, a senior midfielder, led the way for the Owls in 2009 with 20 goals—including hat tricks against Timothy Christian and Middlesex.  She was voted the team’s most valuable player by her peers in a year she broke HPHS’ career goals record with 38.

Senior co-captain Leah Salkin pulled down two hat tricks in a record-breaking season. (Maggie Dominick)

“After last season, I knew Leah would be our MVP this year,” Ruckdeschel said.  “She is capable of doing so much and finding the right position for her was a tall order.  Leah’s a center midfielder but sometimes you just can’t lose her ability up top.  It gave her a chance to be her super hero self and score hat tricks.”

Ruckdeschel was also excited about the play of his freshman goalkeeper, Ashley Lozada, saying that “she played like a junior” and he’s “not worried about next year with her in the net.”

The Owls graduate seven seniors—Sasha Lugo, Natasha Kallman, Danielle Reasso, Gwen Dougherty, Olivia Saad, Salkin and Isabel Sherrell.

“These seniors were friendly, taught the younger players and paved the way for them,” Ruckdeschel said.  “All seven are wonderful and passionate leaders.  They probably left bigger footprints on me and my life than any group has and I’m sorry to see them go.”

HP finished as the No. 4 seed in Central Jersey Group I, picking up wins over Wardlaw-Hartridge and South Amboy as well as a 6-0 pasting of South River along the way.

Gwen Dougherty 'is our lightning . . she lights up the field up on a great day,' says Ruckdeschel. (Maggie Dominick)

“We got the home state playoff game and win that we wanted,” Ruckdeschel said.  “Due to our team unity, at times, we looked dominant with our age, experience and expertise.  That was a great thing to watch.”



Switching over to the boys, head coach Keith Roig’s squad struggled during a 4-13-2 year (2-12-2 in the Blue Division) but benefited from a new rule allowing 16 teams to taste postseason play instead of eight that are over .500 as in years past.

Entering the Central Jersey Group I bracket for the first time since 2005 (when they were a No. 1 seed), the No. 11 Owls took down Middlesex Academy 6-0 in the opening round, before losing to No. 3 Bound Brook 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

“When I first saw the draw, I was completely shocked and happy,” Roig said.  “We are the perfect example of a team that this new rule helps.  Because of our strength of schedule in the Blue Division, we play better soccer on a consistent basis against bigger schools.”

In the quarterfinals, HP held a 1-0 lead with eight minutes left, but an injury to junior left defenseman Sam Finegold forced the Owls to play a different style late in the game.  The Crusaders scored two goals before full time and escaped with the victory.

“We really held Bound Brook down,” Roig said.  “They get two goals in the last eight minutes and all of the sudden, that’s it.”

Junior Chris Green led the Owls with seven goals and three assists on the season, while All-Blue Division midfielder Jose Villeda registered five goals and three assists.  The squad was captained by junior Asa Zuberman-Leibman and senior Mike Weinberg.  Roig commented on Weinberg, his only graduating player.

“Mike is a real workhorse,” Roig said.  “He’s in great shape and tough.  You always want that kind of kid on your team because he plays so hard.  His role was to lead and he did just that.”

The Owls employed sophomore Nick Baay between the pipes and the goalkeeper did not disappoint late in the season.

“He distributes the ball really well as a keeper,” Roig said.  “Nick knows how to control the ball in possession by rolling it out and encourages players to leave the ball at his feet.  To start as a sophomore in states is a great experience”

Returning ten starters in 2010, Roig is confident that HPHS will be right back in the thick of postseason play next fall.

“We were eight minutes away from the sectional semifinals,” Roig said.  “If we focus and play to our potential, I think we can win it.”