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Women's Soccer Team Makes Herculean Effort
but Falls Short of Regional Title

11/02

What can you say about a team that scores four goals in the last 10 minutes of the regional semi-final game to tie it 5-5 and take the match into overtime?  And then holds on against the tournament's eventual winner, only to lose with just 13 seconds left?  Clearly this is a team that plays soccer the way it should be played: with intensity, composure and courage.

Their stellar effort against Gloucester Co. College was not quite enough to give the Mercer women the Region 19 title for the second consecutive year.  Still, they had much to be proud of during their 10-6-1 season.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Shelly Dearden, now in her seventh year with the Vikings, the team had many gratifying wins, including routs of Morris County College 11-0, Ocean 8-2, Essex 11-1 and Sussex 6-1.  Top scorers for Mercer were forwards Melanie Pollack, Courtney Williams, and Nikki Carr, and midfielders Ayesha Fitchett and Michelle MacInnes.  Other key players included Christina Gutch, Kristen O’Donnell, Jackie Lewin and Jen Brokaw.  Defensive strength came from Dina Palmieri, Jazmin Fuschini, Heather Anderson and Suzanne Larson with Michelle Brown doing a great job in goal.

Fitchett and Palmieri were ranked among the top five players in Region 19 and were named to the All-Region 19 First Team along with Melanie Pollack.  Fitchett and Palmieri were also selected for the GSAC All Conference Team/First Team along with Nikki Carr.

Mercer built on its solid nucleus of six returning sophomores with a number of freshmen stand-outs.  That is likely to serve Mercer well when next year's soccer season rolls around.  Shelly Dearden was assisted this season by Cindy Astore, Krissy Bucchino and Chelsea Dixon.

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