Sep 07, 2022
Colts Neck Girls Soccer Needs to Fill Ranks
By Les Pierce
Senior midfielder Juli Coniglio
The Colts Neck High School girls’ soccer team graduated eight seniors in 2021, including top scorer Jordana Golove. Five of those eight are playing collegiate soccer this fall, attesting to the quality of the departed personnel.
The challenge facing fifth-year Head Coach Kevin Hein is twofold. It’s not just a matter of replacing personnel. The second phase is more difficult, developing the new recruits to play as a unit. Hein believes that second phase will depend much on the leadership of the incoming seniors.
Driving the offense for the Cougars is four-year starter Juli Coniglio (Sr. M). Coniglio was the second leading scorer of the unit last season and was named to the Shore Coaches B North All Division squad, the Shore Coaches All Monmouth County Second Team and All Shore Conference Third Team.
Three-year starter Carys Gardiner (Sr. F/M) is also expected to add spark to the offense. “I will be moving her from winger to her natural position of striker,” Hein said. “I think she will be one of the keys to our success this year.”
Kylie Jacoutot (Sr. D) is another four-year starter and will be counted on to provide leadership to the backfield corps. “She is solid at center back, but I may move her around this year,” Hein said. Jacoutot was also named to the Shore Coaches B-North All Division and All Group 3 squad last year.
Hein is also anticipating big things from Anna Casler (Jr. D). “I expect Anna Casler to take a big step forward as one of the top defenders in B North if not the Shore Conference this year,” he stated.
Goalkeeper Mia Nikolic collected an outstanding 128 saves last season. The junior keeper will resume her place in the net this fall. “She has immense talent and may be called upon early in the season while we get our formation and rotation down,” Hein said.
Gardiner, Coniglio and Jacoutot have been named co-captains.
Colts Neck posted a 12-7 record in 2021 and boasts a mark of 24-10-3 over the past two years.
The Cougars have made it to the third round of the Group 3 bracket all four years that Hein has been at the helm. Advancing further this year is clearly an objective.
