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Sports

Gov. Livingston Girls Soccer Off to Strong Start

Lady Highlanders already 2-0 on young season.

If the first two games of the season are any indication, this will be a special season for the Gov. Livingston girls’ soccer team.
 
The Lady Highlanders are already 2-0 after defeating Johnson and Delaware Valley on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
 
“I think we’ll be able to hold our own this year,” said ninth-year coach Mike Roof. “We play in the Watchung Division of the Union County Conference with the likes of Scotch Plains and Westfield, but we’ll compete hard.”
 
Freshman Julia Stirpe scored in the first half and sophomore Jenny Pires added a tally in the second half to back the four-save effort of sophomore goalie Hannah Uray as Gov. Livingston blanked Johnson, 2-0, in the season-opener for both schools in Clark on Friday, Sept. 9.
 
The next day, sophomore midfielder Lauren Jankowski converted a penalty kick midway through the first overtime to key a 1-0 victory over Delaware Valley in Berkeley Heights. Junior keeper Casey Krause made two saves to post the shutout.
 
A year ago, Gov. Livingston finished 8-11-2, but reached the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 2 finals where it bowed to Johnson, 1-0.
 
Lauren Jankowski’s sister, Jessica, a senior forward headed to Quinnipiac, totaled 10 goals and six assists a year ago. She enters this season with a sprained ankle but should return to the lineup soon.
 
“It looks like she’ll miss our first three games but should be back and ready to go,” Roof. “Our other top returning scorer is junior midfielder Jenn French, who had eight goals and 12 assists.”
 
The seniors in the Gov. Livingston lineup include Alyssa Giannone, Grace O’Brien, Paige Murphy, Steph Cataldo and Olga Caballero.
 
Gov. Livingston will be tested by its schedule, which is littered with Group 3 and 4 opponents like Westfield, Union and Scotch Plains. It also plays out-of-county teams in Madison (Group 2), Metuchen (Group 1) and J.P. Stevens (Group 4). A daunting stretch is from Oct. 11-21 when Gov. Livingston will play Union, Summit, Scotch Plains and Cranford – all on the road.
 
“Playing good opponents in and out of conference can only help us,” said Roof. “We always try to get a good mix on our schedule.”
 
Gov. Livingston reached the quarterfinal round of the Union County Tournament where it dropped a 2-1 decision to Scotch Plains, which went on to win its fifth UCT crown in six years.
 
With the Highlanders having graduated just two players from last year’s team and the underclassmen already making an impact through the season’s first weekend, Roof is optimistic about this season.
 
“We have a tough schedule but we’ll look to survive that and get ready for the tournaments,” said Roof, who owns a career mark of 108-53-10. “The girls are excited about this year and I think it’ll be a fun and interesting season.”
 
Gov. Livingston is back in action on Tuesday, Sept. 13 when it hosts Union at 4 p.m.
 
GOV. LIVINGSTON 2011 GIRLS SOCCER SCHEDULE
 
Sept. 9: at Johnson (Won, 2-0)
Sept. 10: vs. Delaware Valley (Won, 1-0, OT)
Sept. 13:  vs. Union, 4
Sept. 15: vs. Summit, 4
Sept. 20: at Scotch Plains, 4
Sept. 22: vs. Rahway, 4
Sept. 24: at Madison, 10 a.m.
Sept. 27: vs. Cranford, 4
Oct. 1: vs. Metuchen, 2
Oct. 3: vs. J.P. Stevens, 3:45
Oct. 4: at Westfield, 4
Oct. 6: vs. Johnson, 4
Oct. 11: at Union, 4
Oct. 15: at Summit, 2
Oct. 18: at Scotch Plains, 4
Oct. 21: at Cranford, 4
Oct. 28: vs. Westfield, 4
Nov. 1: at Oak Knoll, 4

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