Lions take down the Wave 5-2

By Walter J. O’Neill, Jr

The Lions of Middletown North paid a visit to Long Branch last week and faced the girls soccer team in a Shore Conference B North divisional match-up.

For this season all the divisions of the Shore Conference had realignment. The B North now consists of Long Branch, where Jessica Wegelin is in her fourth year as head coach, Manasquan, Middletown North, Middletown South, Monmouth Regional, Ocean Township, Red Bank Catholic, and Wall Township.

“Although our record is not where we would have hoped to be at this point in the season, the girls have worked extremely hard to make each game competitive,” said Wegelin.

Middletown North took a 3-0 lead on the Green Wave in the first half. They added two additional goals in the second half and allowed Long Branch to net two. The Lions beat Long Branch  5-2 win and improved to 7-4 in the division and 7-6 overall. That is good enough for second place in the B North.

Long Branch dropped to 2-9 in the division and are 2-10 overall. “We knew going into this season we were not going to have a deep bench but we were going to work hard and be prepared for the high level of competition in our division,” added Wegelin.
Mya Daniels, junior forward, for Long Branch had one of the two Green Wave goals. The other was scored by junior midfielder Brianna Hills. Hills and Dayvonna Gill, junior defender, each had an assist in the loss. In the goal for Long Branch was junior Marelyn Diaz, who made 13 saves.

“We have been playing each game with 12 girls, which breaks us down to at least, 240 minutes each week against some of the greatest teams in the state. Our conference is always known to be one of the hardest for girls’ soccer which has its advantages and disadvantages,” said Wegelin.

The coach added that the disadvantage is that they have to work very hard for each and every win, nothing is handed to them and there are no easy games. However, the silver lining according to Wegelin is that the girls are learning to never give up and that hard work will always be rewarded.

One of the wins Long Branch earned this season was against Red Bank Catholic. Wegelin said that the overtime win was the biggest in the Green Wave program. “It was a beautiful goal from Mya Daniels. To get a win against a program that has always been top contenders in the Shore Conference and have several state championships really boosted the confidence of every player on the Lady Wave team,” said Wegelin.

Middletown North just outplayed Long Branch in the first half, according to the coach. The two second-half goals were back-to-back for the Wave and they were unable to get back into the game. “I am extremely proud of how this program has come and the lessons we have learned on and off the field. Cousins, Mya Daniels and Dayvonna Gill have already committed to Division 1 schools,” said Wegelin.

Daniels will be attending Rutgers University and Gill is going to Seton Hall University. The record of the Green Wave on paper shows a losing season, but the team does not have a losing attitude.