October 8, 2010
Kardinals, Bees earn top spots
Diana Blancas and Kearny are undefeated in county play this season.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
Last year, in their first year with a Hudson County schedule, Kearny quickly established itself as the area’s premier team. Little has changed for Kearny this year as the defending county champions are the top seed in Hudson County Girls Soccer Tournament. Led by keeper Fernanda Lois, the Kardinals (9-1) have recorded seven shutouts during their current nine-game winning streak. If that wasn’t enough, Kearny has an impressive collection of scoring threats headlined by Janitza Aquino, Stefanie Gomes, Mercedes Lois and Katie O’Neill.
The Kardinals are one of three teams, along with Bayonne and McNair, to earn a first-round bye in the tournament.
If anyone can upset Kearny, it would be the No. 2 seeded Bees. Bayonne gave the Kardinals a scare in a 4-2 defeat in September. Sophomore Meghan O’Donnell has been stellar in net and junior Lisa Rovatsos is one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the league. Opponents can no longer just key on Rovatsos with the emergence of freshman Kaitlyn Pallitto.
Pallitto isn’t the only freshman poised to make an impact in the tournament as Holy Family’s duo of Marissa Dundas and Amelia Attisano join a veteran core headlined by Samantha Sysak and Kaydee Murphy.
Other teams poised to make noise in the tournament are No. 3 seed McNair, No. 4 seed Secaucus and No. 5 seed St. Dominic Academy.
The first round takes place this weekend. The second round will take place on Saturday, October 16. The semifinals will be on Sunday, October 24 at Caven Point. The final will be on Saturday, October 31 at the new Red Bull Arena in Harrison.
*All game times courtesy of highschoolsports.net. Please contact your school’s athletic department for more information on game times/locations.
2010 Hudson County Tournament, First Round Schedule
|
(1) Kearny vs. BYE |
(9) Memorial at (8) Harrison. TBA |
(12) Marist at (5) St. Dominic Academy. TBA |
(13) Union City at (4) Secaucus. Saturday, 1 p.m. |
(11) Dickinson at (6) Holy Family Academy. Saturday, 5 p.m. |
(3) McNair vs. BYE |
(10) Hoboken at (7) North Bergen. Saturday, 2 p.m. |
(2) Bayonne vs. BYE |