By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
LINWOOD – The Mainland Regional girls soccer squad had another impressive season last fall (10-2) and would have gone undefeated if they had cleared the final hurdle – rival Ocean City.
The Red Raiders were the only team in South Jersey to beat the Mustangs last year, including a heartbreaking 3-1 loss in the South East B semifinals.
But with senior Camryn Dirkes, one of the top players in South Jersey, back at full strength for the Mustangs, many are expecting Mainland to continue its high-flying ways on the turf despite losing seven to graduation in June.
Mainland coach Chris Meade said the Mustangs will have plenty of talented players around Dirkes as well, including senior mids Alyssa Turner and Julia Kaes, senior back Sydney Kaes along with sophomore Ava Tenaglia.
Dirkes was still shaking off the cobwebs last year from a leg injury that forced her to miss the entire basketball season her sophomore year. As a senior and fully recovered, Meade said the first-team All Cape Atlantic League East Division star is ready to go.
“Camryn’s a born leader and you know that by her play,” Meade said. “She walks the walk and talks the talk. She leads by example but she also has the attributes and vocally can be a positive leader and that’s what we look for from her bringing along some of the younger girls.”
“I think last year she was still a little banged up but I think she’s catching her stride a little bit and has worked really hard. She had a pretty decent junior basketball season as well but I think the spring track and the summer helped her to get a little closer to 100 percent. She’s been working out a ton on her own and we’re expecting good things from her up top.”
Turner, also a talented cross country runner, returned to soccer last year. Cross country and soccer seasons run at the same time during the fall. Turner quickly established herself as one of the top players and Meade said he believes she will only build on her success from her junior year.
“Alyssa came out for the first time last year to play soccer but she was a cross country runner before that. She was very good at that before she decided to go with soccer,” Meade said. “She’s just one of those all-around athletes and I think she is just now getting back into rare soccer form. She’s looked really good for us and will be really tough in the middle for us.”
“She can do a little bit of everything and her tenacity and competitiveness makes her a natural leader,” he added.
Meade said the Mustangs will also benefit from the leadership of Julia Kaes, another senior with valuable experience and determination.
“Julia is another one who leads by example,” Meade said. Dirkes, Turner and Kaes “are probably our top offensive seniors we have who are the heart and soul of the team as we move forward as far as trying to get the ball on the back end.”
With the coronavirus still lurking with the potential of taking away a player’s or a team’s season, Meade said he has stressed following protocols and staying healthy.
“While like everybody else we need to stay healthy as a team,” Meade said, “I think we have some depth, which helps us keep girls fresh while trying to put in the right pieces in the right spots. Then just like everybody else, play solid defense and goaltending and take advantage of our opportunities.”
“We have some talent so we’ll see where it goes. We need to keep that belief that we can play with anybody. Sometimes that – staying together and believing in each other – is just as important as staying healthy.”
Mainland will play traditional girls power Shawnee then take on nemesis Ocean City at home on Sept. 20 and Our Lady of Mercy on Sept. 24.
“After those games, we should have a gauge by middle to late September where we are,” Meade said. “You know we will have some early tests and we are going to need to be able to compete at the end.”
Meade said he believes his team is balanced enough, offensively and defensively, to be prepared for those early tests that could set the tone for the rest of the season.
“I would think we have that from top to bottom,” Meade said of the Mustangs’ balance this year. “I think we have a solid defense, our midfield is steady and we have some depth in midfield. I think we can be dangerous up top with Camryn and some other pieces.”
“So, I feel like we’re solid from top to bottom, I’m not going to say we’re stellar but I think we’re solid from top to bottom. If we stay healthy, continue to improve, I think we can stay with a lot of teams,” he continued.
The Mustang girls start the regular season this week at Oakcrest at 4 p.m. Thursday and host Shawnee at 11 a.m. Saturday.
