Absegami Girls' Soccer Team Preps for Playoffs with Game Against Holy Spirit

The girls' soccer team is playing the waiting game when it comes to the playoffs.

The Braves won't know officially until Thursday where they will be seeded and who their opponent will be in the opening round, but with just one loss they figure to be a top seed.

Until next week's playoffs the Braves still have a few regular season games to play, including Wednesday night's 5:30 p.m. meeting with Holy Spirit.

“I think it’ good that we are playing,” Absegami coach Elizabeth Lee said. “Triton has a week off (until playoffs) and I don’t know if that is a good or bad thing. For us we get to keep our nose to the grindstone, keep working hard and stay in that pattern of playing.”

Lee said her team is looking forward to tonight’s matchup against the rival Spartans.

“Regardless of record or who you are, it’s always exciting,” Lee said. “It’s always a nice game. I’m excited to see Alicia Hall and see her coaching. I coached against her when she played.”

The Braves enter the game winless in two games, which is a rare streak for the program.

Absegami is coming off a 2-2 tie with Egg Harbor Township, and a loss to Haddonfield in the second round of the Coaches Tournament.

Despite not winning, Lee said she was pleased with the effort from the Braves.

“We are pretty happy with the way we played in the Coaches Tournament, but we are not happy with the result,” Lee said. “Haddonfield is a really good team. We knew all about them. We had a good scouting report and did everything we could. We kept pressuring. I didn’t feel like we were discouraged. I think it motivated the girls.”

Against the Eagles on Oct. 24, Absegami led twice in the game, but an own goal tied the game in the first half, and the Braves allowed a second half equalizer.

Absegami’s Jenna Seddon and Erica Skroski scored for the Braves.

“It was Senior Day and that’s always a big distraction, but Egg Harbor Township played really well,” Lee said. “We had no pressure because we already had clinched the division and conference. We rested some of our girls. Overall I’m happy with the way they played. We are ready for the playoffs so hopefully we can redeem ourselves.”

Better late than never

The Absegami boys' soccer team scored a goal in the final seconds of each half to beat visiting Atlantic City on Oct. 21.

Senior striker Anthony Maruca scored with seven seconds remaining in the first half, and then assisted on the game-winning goal in the second half.

Maruca set up Ibrahim Diomonde, who found the back of the net with five seconds left in the game.

The goal gave Absegami its 10th win of the season, and sixth in its last seven games.

The Braves find out tomorrow who and where they play in the upcoming Group IV South playoffs.

Second season

It’s that time of the year when the cross country team starts entering some big meets.

Absegami’s Katie Juniewicz finished in fourth-place at the Atlantic County Cross Country Championships on Oct. 20 at Hammonton Lake Park.

It was an impressive performance considering Juniewicz has been dealing with a foot injury for most of the season.

The Braves’ top runner finished fourth with a time of 18 minutes, 26.32 seconds. Hammonton's Christin Bettis won the event.

“I was happy with the time,” Juniewicz said. “I do realize that I’m not at my peak. I’m looking forward to running with my team at the (Cape-Atlantic League Championships) on Thursday. I’m hoping I will finally reach my potential.”

Juniewicz and the Braves take on the best of the CAL in their backyard as all the teams will compete at the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey.

On the boys' side, Salman Khalid was the top Absegami boy, finishing in sixth place at the county meet. Khalid finished with a time of 15:37.