Notes

The Flashes capped off their most successful season ever in the SJGSL today by soundly defeating Hamilton South 5-0 en route to an impressive final record of 9-0-1 and the National Conference title.

After almost a 90 minute car ride to Hamilton South, the Flashes couldn't wait for the whistle as they poured on the offense with great passing and a defense that smothered the opponent at mid-field.  Ashley Nyul got the Flashes on the board early with an unassisted goal, followed by two consecutive goals by Sam Weer, assisted by Jackie Miller and Mercedes Bonsanto.   Katie Steffen smoked a PK into the right side of the net after being steam-rolled inside the 18 denying her the initial scoring chance.  Ashley finished the scoring with her second goal, assisted by Katie.

Team leaders in points for the season were as follows:  Sam Weer (7 goals, 6 assists); Ashley Nyul (4 goals, 7 assists); Chloe Bercaw (5 goals, 5 assists); Jackie Miller (3 goals, 4 assists); and Katelyn Steffen (5 goals, 1 assist).  Kaitlyn Antolic was in goal the entire season, except for one-half in an early game, allowing just 7 goals against while recording 4 shutouts.   The Flashes racked up a total of 33 goals with 10 different players scoring a goal.

Impressive defense throughout the year also kept the Flashes in the winning column with Stefanie Bulleck leading the backfield as Sweeper with Brittany Spence on the left side and Kiara Boone and Mercedes Kraus on the right side.

A mid-field that played tough both sides of the ball, and set-up numerous goals by the forwards, consisted of Carly Blanton, Felicia Bonsanto, and Sam Eib with Chloe serving as the center half.  April Hatcher brought even more speed to the front line with the JAKS crew (Jackie, Ashley, Katie, and Sam W.) while also filling in on defense when needed.   Mercedes Bonsanto split time between the mid-field and front line and picked-up her first point of the season with an assist today.

Overall it was an exciting season with great weather (unlike the wet, cold Spring season!) as the Flashes look to take a break after the long school and travel seasons.  The Flashes will enter the Spring 2004 season undoubtedly ranked higher and hope to keep playing great soccer!

The Flashes would like to thank the Florence Township Soccer Association, Club Rep and Field Commissioner Don Lewis, dedicated coaches, parents, fans, and fellow travel teams who supported them throughout the season as well as Coach Wayne Spence and Tony Pastore for keeping up the website and weekly reports on the progress of the team.

CONGRATULATIONS, GIRLS!!!

The Flashes captured the conference title today with a well-fought 1-1 tie against a tough Moorestown club who was looking to knock the Flashes from the unbeaten ranks.  The Flashes led for most of the game after an early goal by Katie Steffen, assisted by Sam Weer.  Jackie Miller set the play up from the middle with a strong feeder pass to Sam.  The Flashes defense once again kept the opponent's offensive push off balance most of the day not giving them a clean shot.  Kaitlyn Antolic was tough in goal as Moorestown finally got on the board with just over 10 minutes left in the game after a diving save by Kaitlyn that bounced out to an awaiting forward. 

The Flashes (8-0-1) couldn't have asked for a better outcome against a Moorestown club that was 6-1-1 and in second place coming into today's match.  The girls close out the season on the road vs. Hamilton South next Sunday and will make plans to celebrate their second consecutive conference title once the season is over.

Keeper Kaitlyn Antolic and the Flashes defense continues to come up big as evidenced by today's 3-1 victory on the road vs. the Cherry Hill Rage.  In almost an exact repeat of Brittany's last second goal save last week, April Hatcher reversed the ball just inches from the goal line allowing Mercedes Kraus to clear it preserving the 2 goal lead and eventual win.   Kaitlyn's aggressive play in goal never allowed the Cherry Hill offense to mount a sustained threat beyond their first goal as the Flashes defense continually pushed at mid-field.  All 3 Flashes goals were tallied in the first half with April connecting on a beautiful cross pass from Ashley Nyul from the left side.   Chloe Bercaw put the Flashes in front 2-1 with a well-placed PK which resulted from Ashley getting tripped-up inside the box on a breakaway throw-in from Felicia Bonsanto.  The third goal was a textbook play as Sam Weer raced down the right side crossing another beautiful pass to the left side which Ashley solidly deposited in the net.

The Flashes win officially eliminated all conference teams, except Moorestown, from any possibility of winning the conference title.  The Flashes improve to 8-0-0 and play second-place Moorestown (6-1-1) at home next Sunday, 3:30 at Marter Field.  A win or a tie will give the Flashes the conference title.  Come out and support the team!

Another trademark half-time speech by Coach Steffen once again lit a fire under the Flashes today who met their coach's challenge and came up big in the second half.  Trailing 1-0 with less than 20 minutes left in the game, the Flashes came alive on both sides of the ball, scoring twice to seal a 2-1 victory on the road vs. Deptford.  Sam Weer's relentless offensive push and unassisted goal at the 63 minute mark tied the game as Jackie Miller followed-up with a punch-in goal from an Ashley Nyul assist at the 70 minute mark to put the Flashes up for good. 

With darkness creeping in on the game in the final minutes, the Flashes defense clamped down on a very quick and aggressive Deptford offense.  With just a few minutes left in the game, the ball got by Keeper Kaitlyn Antolic who came out to counter Deptford's attack, however, Brittany Spence's "flashing" speed and defensive sweep of the ball 1 foot from the goal line helped preserve the win as the Flashes improved to an impressive 7-0-0 on the season.

The victory was appreciated by players and parents alike, as the girls never gave up with their backs against the wall late in the game.  The Flashes hope to put some more distance between themselves and second-place Moorestown who was 4-1-1 going in to today's game.

The Flashes celebrated their 40th win as a travel team in the SJGSL as they rolled to a 4-1 victory over visiting Audubon. Down 1-0 very early in the game, the girls rebounded to keep Audubon off the board the remaining game. Ashley Nyul had a big game with 2 goals and 1 assist. Additional goals were tallied by Chloe Bercaw off a direct kick and Katie Steffen, who wouldn’t be denied as she out-muscled the Audubon keeper for the well-deserved goal. Jackie Miller recorded an assist on Ashley’s first goal and Sam Weer also picked up an assist on a booming cross pass from the right side that Ashley deposited in the net. The Flashes defense once again shut-down the opponent most of the game as Kaitlyn Antolic picked up her 6th win this season in goal. The Flashes remain undefeated at 6-0-0 and maintain control of the conference with 18 points.

The Flashes were credited with the win due to a forfeit by Hamilton South.  The Flashes hit the mid-point of the season undefeated at 5-0-0 and remain in first place in the National Conference.  Team leaders in points:  Chloe Bercaw 8; Sam Weer 7; Jackie Miller and Ashley Nyul are tied with 5 each.

The Flashes defense held strong throughout today’s game, with the offense coming alive in the second half.  A quiet first half (offensively) found the Flashes leading 1-0 as a result of Sam Weer’s goal, assisted by Jackie Miller.  Another inspiring half-time speech by Coach Steffen resulted in the Flashes peppering the Pal-Riv keeper with numerous shots resulting in 3 additional goals by Ashley Nyul, Katie Steffen, and Chloe Bercaw.  Assists were recorded by Chloe, Katie, Carly Blanton, and Sam during the very active second half.  The few Pal-Riv forwards who did eventually make it past the Flashes defense late in the game, did not make their way past keeper Kaitlyn Antolic, who recorded her second shut-out of the year.  The Flashes victory kept them undefeated at 4-0-0 as they sit atop the National Conference in sole possession of first place.

The Flashes traveled to Moorestown today to avenge last year's 2-1 loss and were successful in downing the Crushers 3-1 in a battle of the unbeatens.  The game was won off the toe of Chloe Bercaw and her precise corner kicks as the Flashes tallied 2 first half goals from corners.  Sam Weer got the Flashes on the board early with an assist from Ashley Nyul.  The next two Flashes goals were scored off Chloe's corner kicks:  the first by Carly Blanton, assisted by Ashley Nyul; and the second an awesome head ball goal by Katelyn Steffen.  The Flashes defense (Kiara Boone, Stefanie Bulleck, Mercedes Kraus, and Brittany Spence) continually stuffed the Moorestown front line along with some usual great saves by Keeper Kaitlyn Antolic.  The Flashes improve to 3-0-0 and maintain at least a tie (with Audubon) for first place in the conference.

Sam Weer rebounded from last week's injury with a huge game (2 goals, 2 assists) as the Flashes poured on the offense en route to a 6-0 victory over visiting Highland.  Chloe Bercaw (1 goal, 2 assists) and Jackie Miller (1 goal, 1 assist) also had big games offensively.  Brittany Spence came out of the backfield to score along with Kaitlyn Antolic who came out of goal in the second half to tally the final goal on the day.  Felicia Bonsanto stepped in as Keeper in the second half and shut-down the Highland scoring opportunities.  The Flashes (2-0-0) travel to Moorestown next week in a re-match of last Fall's 2-1 loss on Moorestown's home field.

The Flashes continued their winning ways by rolling to a 4-2 opening day victory over visiting Deptford.  Although the Flashes struck early with an Ashley Nyul goal (in the first minute of the game), the remaining first half resulted in the Flashes trailing 2-1 at the game's mid-point.  The girls listened intently to Coach Steffen's half-time talk and proceeded to explode for 3 second half goals by Kiara Boone, Chloe Bercaw, and Jackie Miller with the Flashes defense shutting-down Deptford's forwards.  Jackie Miller and Ashley Nyul also had an assist each as both had a great game offensively.  Kaitlyn Antolic notched the victory in goal.