2024 SEC American Division Girls Soccer Preview

By, Jake Karp

Livingston

The Livingston Lancers girls varsity soccer team aims to build off its most successful season since 2016, closing out 2023 with an impeccable 18-1-1 overall record, leading the American Division.

Head coach, Brian Carr, now entering his 6th season with the Lancers, led his team to its first NJSIAA finals appearance since 2021, ending in a heartbreaking, 4-1 loss to Ridgewood in the Group 4 Championship game. 

Despite not finishing the job, Livingston has a lot to be proud of as the fall approaches.

They went undefeated within their division (8-0) and their 90% overall win rate led the SEC. 

Sophomore forward Izzy Kilelee led the American Division in assists (18) while also recording 10 goals. Sophomore forward Dina Bojikovic finished the season with 12 goals and 33 points before being held out for most of the postseason. Junior goaltender Antonia Giordano solidified her crucial role with the Lancers, posting 40 saves in 13 games played.

It certainly feels like the Lancers have high expectations coming into the fall with the season kicking off on August 28th against West Morris Central High School at 4pm E.T.

West Orange

As the West Orange Mountaineers Girls Varsity Soccer team embark on another season this fall, they come off a promising 2023 campaign, concluding with a 14-4-2 overall record.

Sean Devore, the 2018 NJ.com New Jersey State Coach of the Year, led the Mountaineers to a second place finish in the American division and now enters his 10th year as head coach at West Orange.

After shutting out Columbia and Kearney in the opening rounds of the NJSIAA tournament, the Mountaineers fell 2-0 to county rivals, the Livingston Lancers, in the Group 4 Semifinal held in Livingston. The Lancers, who led the American Division, were undefeated at home. 

West Orange enters the upcoming season with question marks regarding their depth offensively. Last season, much of the offense relied on senior midfielder and Boston College commit, Jaiden Schultz who scored 23 of her team’s 50 goals (47%) and led the American Division in points (52).

Following the graduation of three starting seniors, West Orange will look for offensive contributions elsewhere, presumably from rising senior midfielders Aminata Diop and Lauren Villasin. Diop posted encouraging numbers in a small sample size last season for the Mountaineers with 12 points in 5 games played. Villasin recorded 7 goals and 19 points in 8 games played. 

Rising Senior Goalie Hannah Amoyah capped off her junior season by recording 73 saves in 17 games played.

Finishing with the third-best record in the SEC last season, the West Orange Mountaineers enter the 2024 fall season with NJSIAA championship aspirations.

West Essex

As fall approaches, the West Essex Knights Girls Soccer team prepare for another season, looking to build off a successful 2023 campaign finishing with a 10-7-2 overall record, earning 3rd place in the American Division.

The Knights entered last season with an offensive void following the departure of two seniors who led them in goals during the 2022 season. Sophomores, Brooke Balanzo, Ava Brignola, and Jayla Walton responded to the test delivering a combined 16 goals. Senior Sofia Brignola chipped in with 5 goals and Junior Logan Goldstein led the Knights in assists with 7. 

Despite finishing 3-3-1 on divisional games, they managed to hand the conference champion Livingston Lancers their only tie of the season, who had an 18-1-1 record. Junior Goaltender Ashley Suhey recorded 10 saves in that game. Suhey finished with 97 saves on the season, ranking third in the American division.

After coasting through Wood-Ridge in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament, then executing a thrilling 3-2 upset win versus Valley Division winner Bernards in the second round, they fell to the Madison Dodgers 2-0 in the Group 2 Semifinal game. 

“I know the players’ expectations are to win the conference, and I’m definitely on board with that.” Head Coach Robert Faggiani told The Wessex Wire. Faggiani is entering his 6th season as the Knights’ Head Coach, recording 49 wins during his tenure.

The Knights last appeared in the NJSIAA Finals in 2021 and will look to get back to this stage as they’ll presumably be running it back with essentially the same core of now juniors and seniors. West Essex takes on Ridge at home, Saturday, September 7th at 12pm E.T. to begin the regular season.

Millburn

The Millburn Millers Girls Soccer team approaches the 2024 fall season with optimism coming off a respectable 10-7-3 season that concluded in a semi-finals appearance in the Group 3 NJSIAA Tournament. 

Head Coach Michael Hogan, entering his 12th year with the Millers, led the team to their first Semi-Finals appearance since 2019, but got trounced 6-0 to the 19-2-1 Chatham Cougars.

The Millers 5-1-2 record at opposing fields was fourth in the SEC and would’ve acted as a catalyst to the team dominating their conference if it wasn’t for their inconsistent play at home, going 5-6-1 during games in Millburn.

Aftering finishing 4th in the American Division, the Millers rolled through Cliffside Park and Somerville in the first two rounds of the NJSIAA tournament totaling 10 unanswered goals in those two games. The Millers’ luck ran out abruptly, getting stumped by Chatham 6-0 in the Group 3 Semi-Finals.

After losing their top two goal scorers, seniors Layla Barjesteh and Anna Speckhart, the Millers seek offensive production elsewhere. Rising Juniors Devin Kirschenbaum and Vidya Bandal are among the candidates to take on commanding roles after combining for 10 goals last season.

Rising Senior Emma Woros will enter the 2024 season as arguably the SEC’s most dominant goaltender. During the 2023 season, she led the conference in saves with 186 and recorded six shutouts, earning All-Conference First Team honors. 

The Millers look to build off a promising post-season and prioritize consistency during the upcoming regular season in preparation for another deep tournament run with the season kicking off September 5th versus Metuchen at 4:00pm E.T. in Millburn.

Montclair

The Montclair Mounties Girls Soccer team closed out 2023 with an 8-8-2 overall record, placing 14th in the SEC.

The Cavaliers started last season off strong going 7-4-1 before losing their final 4 games of the regular season, concluding as the 5th-ranked team in the American Division.

Although the record reflects inconsistency, the Cavaliers played respectably in a season where they were given a tough schedule, with only 3 of their 18 games coming against teams that ended with below a .500 record, and won all of those.

They defeated the 11-6-1 Bergen Tech Knights 3-2 in the first round of the Group 4 NJSIAA Tournament but were eliminated by Morristown in the Quarterfinals by penalty shootout.

After losing senior Evie Campbell who led the Cavaliers in goals (6) during the 2023 season, Montclair juniors, Cara Flynn, Ang McGloughlin, and Morganne Zinn are candidates to fill much of the offensive void after combining for 13 goals in the 2023 season. Rising Junior, Sophie Porter expects to return, recording 61 saves in 12 games played last season.

Head Coach Ashley Hammond is poised to lead the Cavaliers back to the top of the American Division, which they’ve dominated in recent years, winning the division five out of the last seven years and won back to back NJSIAA championships in 2019 and 2020.

The Mounties kick off the 2024 regular season against the Ramsey Rams September 4th at 6:00pm E.T. at Ramsey High School.

MKA

The Montclair Kimberley Academy Girls soccer team gear up to tackle another season, following an 8-6-3 overall record in 2023, finishing 10th in the SEC. In the Non-Public A NJSIAA Tournament, the Cougars defeated Morris-Town Beard in the first round before losing to Immaculate Heart by Shootout in the Quarterfinals.

The Cougars look to re-establish their dominance in the SEC after spending the last two seasons retooling their roster including the naming of Luke Terkowski to replace Jordan Raper as Head Coach. Terkowski stepped into this new role with big shoes to fill as Raper led MKA to three straight NJSIAA Finals appearances from 2019-2021.

Gisella Armstrong and Helen Clothier will look to build off productive sophomore seasons, combining for 12 goals and will take on valuable roles in their junior seasons. Freshman Skylar Finkle recorded 3 goals and 3 assists at the varsity level and figures to garner a larger role with the team in her sophomore season. Goalie Lindsay Fouche delivered a strong junior season, posting 96 saves in 15 games played and will presumably be tasked with anchoring the defense again in her senior season.

The MKA Cougars direct their attention to the first game of the regular season, September 7th at 10:00am E.T. at home versus Oak Knoll.

Verona

The Verona Hillbillies Girls Soccer team await the start of another season this fall following a 2023 campaign finishing with a 6-10-2 overall record, 7th in the American Division.

Undeterred by their regular season struggles, the Hillbillies made a deep run in the Group 1 NJSIAA tournament. Verona defeated the 13-6-1 Secaucus and the HCIAL conference winner, BelovED Charter in the opening rounds before losing to New Providence in the Semifinals, who finished second in the UCC.

As the Hillbillies look to get back on track this season, look for rising senior Victoria Niziolek and rising junior Emerson Garrett to continue supplying the bulk of the offensive production after combining for 21 goals last season. 

Arguably the brightest spot for Verona comes with freshman phenom goalie Molly Daggs who totaled 103 saves in her first season at the varsity level with the Hillbillies, 4th most in the SEC. Look for Daggs to cement her status as one of the SEC’s top goalies for the next three seasons.

Entering his 4th season as Head Coach at Verona, Teddy Niziolek will look to shape up their consistency in the regular season and lead his team to another deep playoff run. The Hillbillies last NJSIAA finals appearance was in 2017.

The 2024 regular season will tee off for Verona at home on September 5th at 4:00pm E.T. versus Passaic County.

Newark Academy

With the 2024 High School girls soccer season approaching, The Newark Academy Minutemen look to refocus their mindset in preparation for a bounceback season after finishing 2-13-1 in 2023, their lowest win total in over a decade. 

Head Coach Scott Rowling, entering his 6th season with the Minutemen, will look to lead his team back to a winning record aftering earning division titles twice during his tenure at Newark Academy. Rowling was named SEC coach of the year in 2019.

Following an early exit from the Non-Public A NJSIAA Tournament, a 7-0 loss to Oak Knoll in the first round, the Minutemen approach next season presumably with plans to garner their production from a similar core of players as last season. 

Rising senior Midfielder/Forward Cami Gallagher notched a team-leading 9 goals last season and figures to perform a similar role during her senior season. Forward Anika Vasani proved her bright future for the Minutemen after tying for the lead in assists (3) and finishing second on the team in goals (2) last season as a freshman. Goalie Zelak Booker recorded 50 saves last season and should hold down the fort again during her senior season.

With the season right around the corner, the Minutemen are nearly certain to have an improved season. Newark Academy’s first game of the season comes against Gill-St. Bernards at home on September 4th, 4:00pm E.T.