Hornets girls soccer plays today in state tourney BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer The Holmdel High School girls soccer team heads into the NJSIAA North 2 Group III tourney as the Shore Conference's Class A Central champion and holders of a 12-3-1 record, following a disappointing loss in the Conference Tournament quarter finals at home against Shore Regional. The top-seeded Hornets received a firstround bye and will play at home again this afternoon against the winner of the Nutley- Rahway game, which was scheduled for Monday. Following the Shore loss, Holmdel rebounded with a strong showing in a 3-0 win over Howell as freshman goalie Sara Killough picked up her fifth shutout of the year. In the state game, Holmdel coach Jennifer Conroy said her team is hoping to take better advantage of playing on its home field. "They girls have to come out hard from the opening whistle - they can't afford to have a letdown," the veteran coach said. "If they continue to think defense first and keep the ball on the ground, we should be OK. "Of course, another factor is winning the 50/50 balls; that's basic, but it's so important." Generally speaking, Holmdel has proved to be a difficult team to play. The Hornets split their season series with RBC and earned a tie and a victory against St. John Vianney of Holmdel. Conroy's team also upended Group IV Woodbridge, 2-1, and came back from a 2-0 deficit to down Manasquan, 3-2. In all, Holmdel has scored 42 goals, while allowing opponents to score just 16 times in 16 games. Interestingly, Conroy pointed out that nine of the goals against the team have come in Saturday games. The emergence of Killough in goals has been a boon, but the Hornets also boast a solid defensive corps, anchored by stopper Jackie Oren and three sophomores, Alexa and Jamie Martinez and Lindsay Ippolito. Sweeper Danielle Esposito and midfielders Kim Fiorentino, Isabelle Li, a junior, and Kaylynn Nelson, a sophomore, have been outstanding, Conroy noted. Fiorentino, who has one goal to go along with seven assists, and Nelson, who has a pair of goals and five assists, rarely leave the field. Esposito is strong defensively and Li plays a vital role in setting up the offense, as evidenced by her three goals and six assists, and Conroy said the junior "doesn't really get the recognition she deserves." Stephanie DeSousa, and Rebecca Galarazza, both sophomores, provide depth off the bench. DeSousa, who also plays forward, has contributed with three goals and four assists. Up front, the Hornets are extremely dangerous with Marybeth Lesbirel, who leads the team with 18 goals to go along with five assists. Lesbirel, a four-year starter, is Holmdel's career-scoring leader with 50 goals (Brienne Downs is second with 22 tallies). Sophomore Angela Pento works well with Lesbirel and is also a threat with 11 goals and seven assists to her credit, and scrappy Katie O'Neill, who has played through a series of nagging injuries, has three goals. "This has been a good year because the girls really came together as a team," Conroy said. "We have a very talented group of seniors who have gotten the job done for us in the past. They've combined with our sophomores, who have really stepped to get the job done when called upon and to give us some solid depth."