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The Boonton coaches have been taking in their team’s fluid, stick-to-stick passing from the sidelines and have been impressed. The Bombers’ ability to communicate has been evident as well as a defense that has fended off threat after threat.
Boonton goalie Tayla Szmak has an even better view of the field and is awed by what she’s been witnessing.
“I see that we use our passing options and take advantage of the open spaces that are there,” Szmak said. “Everyone sees who’s open, just like I do. The intensity is always up. Everyone has done a great job all season, no matter what we’re faced with.”
As of Oct. 3, those elements have translated into a 9-0 record for the Bombers. Eight of those victories have been by shutout, including a 1-0 win over neighboring Mountain Lakes on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Head coach Cindy Tserkis-Schlitt is elated by Boonton’s success and noted that it has been brought about by a team effort.
“It hasn’t been individuals. It’s every person on the field,” Tserkis-Schlitt said. “We have some core players who are pivotal but there’s talent all over. We have no holes.
“The girls keep their composure and are a blessing to coach. They make it enjoyable.”
Boonton’s greatest assets lie up the middle, where Lila Maggio, Kaylee Hughen, Elizabeth Harbeson and Carmella Campanelli reside. The quartet form a formidable gauntlet, one that has played a major role in keeping opponents from the scoring circle, by redirecting the ball. Then there’s Szmak, whose play in goal has been stellar. Szmak, a senior, has 300-plus saves over her three seasons as a starter and has surrendered one goal this fall.
“We all do everything,” said Maggio, a senior center midfielder and tri-captain. “We’ve got so many strong players.”
Maggio admitted that she was a tad concerned when Mountain Lakes was awarded two corners in a 10-second span with 2:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. At the time, the Bombers held a 1-0 edge, courtesy of Jocelyn Martinez’s goal, which was scored off a corner with 7:11 left.
The corner unit, comprised of Maggio, Hughen, Ani Myers, Campanelli and Szmak, denied the Lakers both times then did it again at 50 seconds.
“It was stressful,” Maggio said. “It was incredible that we didn’t allow Mountain Lakes, which is a great program, to score.”
Szmak (11 saves) agreed and was quick to credit her teammates for their support.
“I trust the defense,” she said. “They’ve stepped up from last year. There are no worries. I know someone will get the ball out.”
Martinez, a junior, has been a key component of the offense and has nine goals, the majority of them gamewinners. She’s been effective on the post since fifth grade and has come through under pressure.
“I was so relieved,” Martinez said. “It was 0-0, the last quarter. We wanted to beat them. It was so exciting.”
The goal versus Mountain Lakes was a prime example of teamwork and relentlessness. Maggio passed to Kaylee Hughen, who took the initial shot, and the ball was rejected by Mountain Lakes goalie Arianna Fragomeni. There was another shot on goal by Elizabeth Harbeson and a stop by Lakers defender Lila Honan before Martinez converted.
“Jocelyn has a beautiful ability to get the ball off the post,” Tserkis-Schlitt said. “If she doesn’t have a shot, she’s not selfish. She’ll give it up.”
According to Martinez, she simply “knows how to position my body” and “to keep my stick down.”
“I want to help my team,” she said. “I did something. I accomplished something. Sometimes, if I don’t score, I feel like I let the team down.”
Boonton’s perfection going into the Morris County Tournament seeding meeting earned it the top seed. The Bombers rolled past Roxbury 3-0 in the opening round and blanked Mount Olive 3-0 in the quarterfinals on Saturday, Oct. 7 to run their record to 10-1 and gain a semifinal berth for a game on their home turf.
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