This season the Girls Varsity Soccer Team at Division Avenue High School has a very familiar look. The team is virtually the same squad that went to the Nassau County Finals last season. There is only one change to last year’s starting lineup and that is in goal. With the graduation of all-league keeper Nicolette Parmese the job of tending the net fell to senior keeper Brianna Spitaliere. Spitaliere has led the Lady Dragons to an undefeated first half of the season in their conference, and has recorded two shutouts in six games.
Powering the offense are Julie Ballantyne and Brittany Weissman. Ballantyne is the conference leader in goals scored to this point in the season, while Weissman has also added valuable minutes.
In the midfield for the Blue Dragons are Janelle Marxhausen, Zenia Materon, and Kayla Sheldrick. Midfield can be a grueling position to play but all three girls play it very well and with great skill.
Leading a very stingy defense are Taylor Malings, Kelsey Marxhausen, Christina Rea, and Emily Smucker. The defense is averaging giving up less than one goal a game.
The efforts of the entire team have led to a 6-0 first half record thus far and have almost clinched a playoff spot for the girls.
