Brick girls showing progress on lax field

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick Memorial's girls lacrosse team finds that getting victories can be difficult in the grueling Shore Conference A South, but coach Aimee Terranova says she sees progress as the team heads toward the second half of the season.

The Mustangs travel to Brick Township on Saturday morning for an 11 p.m. rematch after Brick Memorial pulled out a 5-4 thriller the first time around.

Brick Township slipped to 0-6 after a 14-4 loss to Southern.

"We're going through growing pains, especially with our last couple of losses," said Terranova of the 1-4-1 Mustangs. "But now everybody is stepping up and understanding it."

The key, says Terranova, is getting more balance and more players involved with the offense.

"Our attack has been scattered, very evenly distributed among our attack players," said Terranova.

"We're trying to get that across to our players on all levels, not just the varsity level."

The biggest thing, says Terranova, is getting the veteran players to learn the system of a new coach, who is the third coach in three seasons.

The players showed flashes of understanding, including a 9-9 tie in the season opening match against Toms River North.

But Terranova realizes there is more work to be done after a recent 13-3 loss to Toms River East. Despite the score, Terranova saw some bright spots on the defensive side.

"The defense is starting to pull together and work together as a unit," said the coach, although the team was severely tested late last week in a 20-5 loss to perennial power Jackson. "They [defenders] are like our attackers who are growing as a unit."

Terranova spoke specifically about the play of her goalies - junior Sam DeVizio and senior Jennifer Kocher.

"I love my goalies," said Terranova. "Sam DeVizio works so hard on the field and after practices. Jennifer Kocher has stepped up as a commanding presence in the field."

Terranova hopes her young players continue to jell and add on more victories like last year's team that finished strongly in a five-victory season.