Lenape soccer girls keep winning despite changing rosters

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP - The names change, but for the Lenape girls' soccer team, the results continue at a mind-boggling rate.

Competing with a team that had just two senior starters, Lenape earned its fourth straight South Jersey Group 4 title with Friday's 2-0 win over top-seeded host Absegami.

That the second-seeded Indians didn't earn the No. 1 seed shows how difficult Group 4 was.

And the Indians beat Absegami for the second time in a championship setting after earning a 2-1, double-overtime triumph over the Braves in the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Tournament.

Now Lenape is two steps from earning a fourth straight state Group 4 title, next meeting Jackson in Tuesday's state Group 4 semifinal.

It's easy to take this success for granted, but what has made Lenape's run more impressive is that the Indians have done it playing a minefield of a schedule, both this year and the previous three.

"This one feels so much different," said defender Nicole Curry, who, along with fellow defender Becca Meyers, was one of Lenape's senior starters on Friday. "I feel we have to set the example."

What an example Curry set.

Curry usually has the often-overlooked job of marking the opponent's top scorer, and she couldn't have done a better job against Absegami 19-goal scorer and George Washington recruit Nicole Belfonti.

"Nicole Curry was just outstanding," Lenape coach Kevin Meder said.

Lenape gave Curry help because Belfonti is so dangerous, but for much of the game, this was Curry stepping up the way previous third-year starters have for Lenape.

Even though Lenape had key injuries and not as much experience returning as the three previous teams, the expectations never lowered.

"We always set a goal of winning the conference, Coaches Tournament, sectional, and state titles," Meder said.

Check off three of four at this point.

While this may not be Lenape's most experienced team, the Indians received a major boost from freshman Kate Walters, who scored the game's first goal in the 42d minute, dribbling inside the box, then maneuvering out of it to give herself needed space before booming a shot into the upper right corner for her 19th goal.

Walters is a prolific scorer who has teamed with fellow freshman Rachelle Ross to give the Indians serious offensive punch. This season, Walters has had as much impact on her team as any player in South Jersey.

"The goal got us started and we felt more comfortable after that," said Walters, who never allows the opponent that same comfortable feeling.

When Lenape's Nicolette Stoner scored on a 23-yard bullet in the 62d minute, the Indians (21-1-2) were on their way.

It also can't be emphasized enough how much Absegami (18-3-1) accomplished and what a talented team Lenape defeated.

Lenape is ranked No. 1 in South Jersey by The Inquirer and Absegami, nowhere to be found in the preseason rankings, is No. 2 and likely not dropping.

Perhaps only St. Augustine's boys play a better possession game than Absegami, which was controlling tempo in the scoreless first half, but wasn't getting any serious offensive chances.

Absegami plays a deliberate style, the opposite of Lenape.

"They play like fastbreak, run-and-gun basketball, and they always put pressure on you," Absegami coach Elizabeth Lee said of Lenape. "That is a great team."

That's a line so many coaches have said after facing Lenape. There is no other conclusion to make about a program that continues to be the standard-bearer in South Jersey soccer.

Absegami   0 0 - 0

Lenape   0 2 - 2

Goals: L–Kate Walters, Nicolette Stoner. Saves: A–Hannah Paugh 6, Allison Johnson 2.