PENNINGTON:
Joining Wildcats Carugati's Dream
By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor
Pennington School senior Alexa Carugati tore up one of her knees before the start of her third season as a Red Raider so she subsequently went unnoticed her junior year.
When she came back last fall, however, Carugati anchored a defense that helped Pennington capture its sixth consecutive NJISAA Prep A title in an unbeaten season that culminated in a 1-0 win over Peddie.
“Our defense was amazing this year--everyone stepped up big time,” said Carugati.
The only senior on the squad, Carugati held down a unit that helped the Red Raiders win 12 of those 18 games by shutout. Instead of bemoaning her role, the center backfielder reveled in the opportunity.
“It was great to have all the underclassmen around me and having their show of support all season long,” she said.
And when Villanova women’s soccer coach John Byford came calling for Carugati’s services, it was like a dream come true, for Alexa.
“I’ve just been waiting for this day to come,” stated Carugati Feb. 4 inside the confines of Sparks Gym. “Finally signing, it’s an awesome feeling, knowing that you’re going to play in college and it’s going to be a great four years.”
Carugati will join a Wildcats program at went 4-6-1 in the Big East. Byford, in his first year as Villanova head coach, led the Wildcats to an 11-7-1 record, overall, marking the second best season debut among the five Villanova head coaches. She’ll follow another backfielder from Newtown to the main line campus, Kristen Verbit, who’ll be gone by the time the Pennington senior arrives.
While Verbit wasn’t at Villanova her entire college career (she spent her freshman year at VA Tech), her class graduates having posted a 48-20-13 record in their careers and a winning percentage of .673.
***
In addition to defeating Notre Dame in the Mercer County Tournament finale, Pennington got past PDS, Rutgers Prep, and Lawrenceville to get to the state prep finale.
What was really amazing was that Pennington was still able to win without standout senior forward Amber Brooks (who played just one game) and Heidi Sabatura (who missed the last seven games of the season with an ankle injury).
Brooks led the team in scoring her junior year; Sabatura took on that role last fall before going down with her injury.
“Everyone just pulled together and fought through the games,” stated Carugati. “We ended up becoming undefeated and No. 1 in the nation.”
Brooks, a New Hope resident who captained the US National U-17 team to a silver medal late last year in the World Cup, will play for the defending national champion University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Tarheels are coming off a record 20th consecutive national championship.
According to Carugati, the Raiders didn’t panic when Brooks’ departure to the World Cup team became a reality.
“We knew early on that she was going to New Zealand; we all figured we might as well step it up,” she said.
“Without Amber, it was a big loss.
“But at the same time, new people came in and played hard and everyone did great.”
Some of the offensive thrust put forth by Pennington was posted by freshman Morgan Davis and sophomores Andrea Ricketti, Priscilla Bonilla and May Castranova.
Junior Kaitlyn Kerr also came through in a big way offensively for the Red Raiders, compiling 19 goals and 16 assists while netting the game’s only goal in the state title tilt.
Despite the fact that Kerr is one of the few standouts coming back, Carugati believes that Pennington is capable of taking an unprecedented seventh consecutive state championship next year.
“Oh they’ll be back,” she said. “They’re going to do awesome next year.”
With the Red Raiders’ track record, how could anyone doubt such a statement?!
Sports Editor
When she came back last fall, however, Carugati anchored a defense that helped Pennington capture its sixth consecutive NJISAA Prep A title in an unbeaten season that culminated in a 1-0 win over Peddie.
“Our defense was amazing this year--everyone stepped up big time,” said Carugati.
The only senior on the squad, Carugati held down a unit that helped the Red Raiders win 12 of those 18 games by shutout. Instead of bemoaning her role, the center backfielder reveled in the opportunity.
“It was great to have all the underclassmen around me and having their show of support all season long,” she said.
And when Villanova women’s soccer coach John Byford came calling for Carugati’s services, it was like a dream come true, for Alexa.
“I’ve just been waiting for this day to come,” stated Carugati Feb. 4 inside the confines of Sparks Gym. “Finally signing, it’s an awesome feeling, knowing that you’re going to play in college and it’s going to be a great four years.”
Carugati will join a Wildcats program at went 4-6-1 in the Big East. Byford, in his first year as Villanova head coach, led the Wildcats to an 11-7-1 record, overall, marking the second best season debut among the five Villanova head coaches. She’ll follow another backfielder from Newtown to the main line campus, Kristen Verbit, who’ll be gone by the time the Pennington senior arrives.
While Verbit wasn’t at Villanova her entire college career (she spent her freshman year at VA Tech), her class graduates having posted a 48-20-13 record in their careers and a winning percentage of .673.
***
In addition to defeating Notre Dame in the Mercer County Tournament finale, Pennington got past PDS, Rutgers Prep, and Lawrenceville to get to the state prep finale.
What was really amazing was that Pennington was still able to win without standout senior forward Amber Brooks (who played just one game) and Heidi Sabatura (who missed the last seven games of the season with an ankle injury).
Brooks led the team in scoring her junior year; Sabatura took on that role last fall before going down with her injury.
“Everyone just pulled together and fought through the games,” stated Carugati. “We ended up becoming undefeated and No. 1 in the nation.”
Brooks, a New Hope resident who captained the US National U-17 team to a silver medal late last year in the World Cup, will play for the defending national champion University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Tarheels are coming off a record 20th consecutive national championship.
According to Carugati, the Raiders didn’t panic when Brooks’ departure to the World Cup team became a reality.
“We knew early on that she was going to New Zealand; we all figured we might as well step it up,” she said.
“Without Amber, it was a big loss.
“But at the same time, new people came in and played hard and everyone did great.”
Some of the offensive thrust put forth by Pennington was posted by freshman Morgan Davis and sophomores Andrea Ricketti, Priscilla Bonilla and May Castranova.
Junior Kaitlyn Kerr also came through in a big way offensively for the Red Raiders, compiling 19 goals and 16 assists while netting the game’s only goal in the state title tilt.
Despite the fact that Kerr is one of the few standouts coming back, Carugati believes that Pennington is capable of taking an unprecedented seventh consecutive state championship next year.
“Oh they’ll be back,” she said. “They’re going to do awesome next year.”
With the Red Raiders’ track record, how could anyone doubt such a statement?!
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