This past week, Verona defeated #14 Secaucus 4-3 in the opening round, and followed that with a 3-0 defeat of #6 McNair in round 2. Jackie Brozyna had a hat trick in the Secaucus game, with fellow senior Julia Tole finding the back of the net for the fourth score. Tole, Emilia Frizzi and Claire Fitzpatrick were all credited with assists. Amanda Maguire, a junior, led the scoring against McNair with two goals and Tole added the third.
On Tuesday afternoon, the girls will travel to New Providence to face the #2 seeded team in North 2, Group 1. The other round 3 game that afternoon pits #1 Lyndhurst against #5 Glen Ridge. The finals are scheduled for Friday, November 14.
In boys soccer, #4 Verona beat #13 Butler in the opening round, but round 2 would be a different story. In spite of the cold, wet weather, dozens of fans filled the stands, only to witness a disappointing 5-0 loss to Hawthorne. Verona was forced to play with 10 men for most of the game when center defender Billy Gault was red-carded early in the first half. Sophomore Robert Farley, also a defender, had to take control of the vulnerable defense.
In spite of being plagued by injuries early in the season, the team had a winning record with 11 wins, 9 loses and 1 tie–head coach Wayne Looney’s best season since 2011. Looking to next season, although the team will lose 10 seniors a number of strong, hungry underclassmen are expected to fill the void.
In volleyball, #14 Verona defeated #19 North Arlington 25-8, 25-18 in round 1 of the Public Group 1 bracket. But Verona couldn’t get past #3 Glen Rock in round 2: The Bergen County team narrowly edged out Verona 27-25 in the first set, before winning 25-13 in the second. Madisyn Matthews led Verona in service points in the playoffs, with 12 against North Arlington and nine against Glen Rock, while Carly Waterman continued to pile on the kills, getting 16 in the first round and six more in the second.
Football opens its march on the North 1, Group 1 championship with a game against #7 Pompton Lakes at home on Saturday, November 15 at 1 p.m.
Soccer photos copyright Andy Yeates. Volleyball photo copyright Bob Misuro. All used by permission.
