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Health & Fitness

Red Bank Catholic Girls Lacrosse Deserving Of No.1 Ranking

Trounce Ocean Township 20-1 as Fallon Nets Six

By Mike Ready

OCEAN TOWNSHIP – Red Bank Catholic’s outstanding trio of senior midfielders accounted for 11 of the Caseys 19 goals and all 10 assists as they pounded fourth ranked and Class B North rival Ocean Township, 20-1, Thursday in cold and windy conditions on the Spartans (7-2) home turf.

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University of Massachusetts bound midfielder Maeve Cowley (two goals, five assists) got her 100th career assist with her fourth assist of the game, setting up a goal by sophomore attacker Taylor Tribuiani (3 goals) with 9:06 remaining in the first half for 11-0 lead.

Cowley was an Asbury Park Press first team All-Shore selection last season, was second in the Shore Conference in assists (44) and ranked sixth in scoring with 113 points. She’s on track to equal or better those totals with 24 goals and 19 assists for 43 points this season.

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Midfielder Grace Fallon, a Duke University recruit, found the back of the net six times and added two assists Thursday, while the Caseys third stand-out midfielder, Amanda Casten, had three goals - all in the first half -  and assisted on three others for the Caseys .

Fallon, a 2013 Star ledger second team All-State and first team Asbury Park Press All-Shore selection, led the state in assists in 2013 with 99 and the Shore Conference in scoring with 162 points. Her two assists yesterday gives her 26 on the year and her six goals bring her current season total to 26 goals, second on the team.

Casten also was selected first team All-Shore last season after scoring 93 goals - fourth in the Shore Conference -  and finished with 108 points, good for eighth in the shore. She’ll stay in state and continue her playing career at Rutgers University. She currently has 30 goals on the season to lead the Casey’s along with nine assists.

“Grace, Maeve and Amanda have been playing together since freshman year,” Casey coach Lisa Caprioni said. “They definitely have a unique chemistry and they really do a nice job of getting everyone else involved.”

Less than a minute into the game Fallon opened the scoring after Cowley found her right in front of the net and she side armed one past Spartans goalie, Bailey Herr. Herr was under siege all-day long as the Caseys bombarded her with 30-shots on goal.

A minute and a half later, Cowley grabbed a ground ball and raced about 45 yards before stopping in her tracks and spotting an open Tribuiani, who bounced a shot past Herr for a quick 2-0 lead.

The rout was on at that point as the Caseys dominated every facet of the game to take a 14-0 halftime lead. They pushed the lead to 18-0 minutes into second half before Caprioni sat most of her starters for remainder of the game.

“That was without a doubt the best first half we’ve played all season,” Caprioni said. “We really came out of the gates firing on all cylinders. Our defense was outstanding, to shutout a team like that in the first half was really something; our kids did an incredible job. McKayla Conti had six goals against us in the first game (43 goals this season) and we shut her out; sophomore Alexa Bezzone did a fantastic job on her.”

Along with being ranked No.1 in the Shore Conference, the Star Ledger has the undefeated Caseys (7-0) at No.11 in the state poll and LAXPOWER puts them in the No.3 slot in their state rankings. They have demolished their opposition to the tune of 133 – 22 in goal differential in their seven wins.

Looming right behind the Caseys in all three polls is Rumson Fair Haven, a team that defeated the Caseys three times last season, including the Shore Conference finals and the NJSIAA South Group II semifinals.

The Caseys will meet the Bulldogs (6-2) this Wednesday, 4-23-14, at Rumson in the Shore Conference girl’s lacrosse most anticipated game of the season. The Bulldogs defeated No.3 ranked Manasquan, 19-6, Thursday so you can expect them to be sky high for Wednesday’s game.

“I’m surprised Rumson’s not ranked No.1; they’re the defending champions.” Caprioni said. “We’ve scouted them and they’re a very good team; we’re going to have our hands more than full next week.”

When asked if her team is already looking ahead to the big game, Caprioni said. “Yes and no, we’re trying to take things one game at a time but I’d be a fool to say ‘no they’re not looking forward to it.’ We have St. John Vianney this Monday and that’s always a tough game, we can’t look past anyone.”

Sophomore attacker Cameron Lynch netted two goals for the Casey’s while freshman Olivia Farrington, juniors Ariana Mancini and Jacquelyn Mauro, and senior Julie Anne Krasutsky all had one goal for the Caseys. Senior Gabby Hagerman scored the Spartans only goal midway through the second half.

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