Freshman Alivia Pitts registered a goal and an assist to help spark the Roselle Catholic girls’ soccer team to a 2-1 victory against Marist High School in Bayonne last Friday.
The Lions won their third in a row and improved their record to 8-4.
Kayla Whitaker and Natalie Hamlin also connected for goals for RC, which led 1-0 at halftime. Junior goalie Adia Ledbetter made two saves for the shutout.
The day before the win against Marist, Pitts and senior Ema Dias both scored two goals in a 5-0 triumph against Hillside on Chakey Field.
Whitaker notched a goal and an assist, while Nia Johnson and Mchelle Coliccho each contributed an assists to the RC attack.
Dias and Ledbetter combined on the shutout for RC, which will go for four in a row Tuesday at Plainfield.
GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL SPIKES 3 OPPONENTS
Following the most challenging stretch of its schedule thus far, the Roselle Catholic girls’ volleyball team ended last week with consecutive game victories against Elizabeth, Union and Union City.
The Lions, who improved to 16-6, received the No. 2 seed for the Union County Tournament. RC began defense of its first UCT crown Tuesday when they hosted 1th-seeded Johnson.
The top four UCT seeds were awarded to Westfield, RC, Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Union Catholic.
Despite suffering setbacks to strong squads from North Hunterdon, Hunterdon Central and Ridge – programs all ranked in The Star-Ledger’s statewide Top 20 – the Lions are expected to remain in the rankings. The Ledger has ranked Roselle Catholic third in its non-public poll for most of the season.
The Lions continue to receive solid play from Jessica Ciandella, Calli Scheuermann, Ally Mroczek, Ridimerb Diaz, Amanda Johns, Melissa Sheehan, Amanda Coccia, Keyarah Newton, Sue Riley, Jodi Daniel, Dawn Gergich and Myia Williams.
Roselle Catholic’s UCT opener was to be sandwiched between games against conference rivals Westfield on Monday, which waas the only Union County school to top RC this fall as of Monday, and Union Catholic Thursday, Oct. 24 in The Lions’ Den.
The RC junior varsity girls’ volleyball team also closed last week with a three-match winning streak thanks to victories against Elizabeth, Union and Union City.
The JV Lions were to begin UCT play Tuesday at New Providence.
Charlene Esteva, Emily Badalis, Amanda Agyapong, Takisha Ottley, Brittany Zwiebel, Alyssa Manzo, Christina Truncale and Irena Soltys have made key contributions to the winning streak, according to RC JV coach Charlie Scheuermann.
UCT VARSITY VOLLEYBALL
VARSITY QUARTERFINALS
FRIDAY, OCT. 25
(9) Cranford at (1) Westfield
(5) Elizabeth at (4) Union Catholic
(11) Dayton at (3) Scotch Plains-Fanwood
SATURDAY, OCT. 26 (7) Linden at (2) Roselle Catholic, 10 am
VARSITY SEMIFINALS
TUESDAY, OCT. 29
At Johnson HS, Clark
UCT JV QUARTERFINALS
(9) Oak Knoll at (1) Westfield
(12) Linden at (4) Elizabeth
(10) Roselle at (2) Cranford (11) Roselle Catholic at (3) Union Catholic
BOYS’ SOCCER WINS AT JOIHNSON BEHIND ANTON GOAL
Senior Nick Anton hit the back of the net midway through the second half to snap a tie and help lift the Roselle Catholic boys’ soccer team to a 2-1 victory night against Johnson High School in Clark last Thursday night.
The Lions, who trailed ALJ 1-0 at halftime, won their third straight on the pitch and improved their record to 10-5. Juniors Erick Ojeda and Jeffrey Castro both assisted on the RC goals.
Junior Antonio Altamirano scored his 29th goal of the season to forge a 1-1 tie.
Roselle Catholic has become the traditional Senior Night opponent for the Crusaders in Clark. In front of an enthusiastic crowd in bleachers behind both benches, RC’s Tomas Carvalho, Billy Carvalho, Chris Porter, Kevin Quizhpi, Trevor Mulhall and Anton played strong games defensively, stated coach Scot Simpson in front of winning goalie Anthony Milano, a junior.
The Lions were to return to action Tuesday in Springfield where they were to be the Senior Night opponent for the Dayton Bulldogs. RC concludes this week with a 10 a.m. kickoff at Union Catholic on Saturday, Oct. 26, which is a game that was moved from its original scheduled date of Oct. 24.
The RC junior varsity boys’ soccer team was to play Dayton Tuesday afternoon at Meisel Avenue Park and then face the rival Union Catholic Vikings on Friday, Oct. 25. Both matches are 4 p.m. starts.