GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — With just over two weeks remaining in the high school girls soccer regular season, Absegami finds itself in great position.
The Braves (10-1) started the season on a nine-game winning streak, their best start in over a decade, and are well in control of the Cape-Atlantic League National Division.
Naturally, hopes are high.
“This has been a really great season for us, so far, with our winning record. We are really grateful for it,” said junior forward/midfielder Ogechi Wokocha, who leads the Braves with 13 goals and 30 points.
“Our team, we are a bunch of talented girls and we communicate really well. We are all one big family, and it’s really special to be on the team.”
Absegami mainly consists of juniors and has just three seniors, including star defender Kiera Scannell. She anchors a defense that allowed just 1.22 goals per game through 11 contests.
“We do have a talented group of girls, and underclassmen have really stepped up this season,” said Scannell, who was a second-team Press All-Star last season. “I feel like everyone is communicating well and playing their part on the team.”
Absegami went 11-6 last season and placed second in the CAL National, just missing the divisional title by one game. With only four players who graduated and a bunch of returning talent, the Braves knew they were set up for success coming into this season, third-year coach Luis Uchillan said.
“It was just about making sure we dominate our division games and then have our preparations going into some of the games out of our conference,” he said. “But ultimately, we all knew what the team goal was improving from last year. It’s always about pushing the standards.”
Absegami started 12-0 in 2010 and made the South Jersey Coaches Association Cup and Group IV title games and finished 18-3. Absegami started 13-1 in 2011 and reached the Group IV semifinals and finished 16-3-1.
After that, the Braves went 9-6-1 in 2012 and were under .500 from 2013-15. The Braves are 85-64-3 since 2016, including 21-15-1 the last two falls under Uchillan.
“This is something that has been years in the making,” said Uchillan, noting many of his juniors started as freshman in his first season at the helm.
“We can’t do this with everybody. We need everybody to be on the same page to move forward as a team. Having that ability to believe in the system, buying into team camaraderie and pushing each other each day at practice just shows what we are displaying so far into the season.”
Junior Olivia Hagofsky leads Absegami with nine assists to go with seven goals, and junior Leila Torres has six assists and five goals.
Sophomore forward Isabella Pecan has six goals and two assists. Sophomore midfielder Julia Macchione has nine points. Freshman Keara Lawlor has 87 saves and six shutouts.
Scannell said that the Braves’ winning ways are a major confidence booster.
“I feel like I never really experienced this. … The energy is just really good,” she said.
Scannell and Wokocha gave credit to the coaching staff as well as a many members of the team having played at the club level.
“Everyone knows their positions,” Scannell said.
Absegami’s family-like atmosphere is another factor, Wokocha said. Teachers and classmates have mentioned the team’s winning record at school, creating a positive atmosphere.
“It’s been really positive, actually. Everyone around, I feel like it’s a very good vibe … It’s been fun to be around,” Scannell said.
Uchillan played soccer at Absegami and graduated in 2007, so he’s familiar with the old tradition of where the program was in years past, he said.
Uchillan credits a lot of the success this season to his assistants Emily Johnson, Grant Gibson and Eric Kasunich.
“I am trying to bring back the culture and the standards back to what it was,” he said. “We are just trying to find our unique way of just pushing our own way to make a statement at the end of the season as well as making a push into the playoffs.”
Absegami has seven regular season games left, including a tough stretch to finish against Mainland Regional, Southern Regional and Toms River North. The Braves should also make the CAL Tournament as division leaders.
“The energy is high,” Uchillan said. “We work hard. It’s been multiple years for this program to be where it’s at. It’s awesome to see that the girls are seeing the fruition of that.”
Contact Patrick Mulranen: 609-272-7217
PMulranen@pressofac.com
Twitter @ACPressMulranen
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