caption: MATCH PLAY: Members of the Match Fit Chelsea U16 girls’ travel soccer team are all smiles before heading to the Super Y 2010 North American finals in Tampa, Fla. last month. Match Fit won its group in the competition and advanced to the semifinals, where it fell 2-1 to Quickstrike FC (New York). Pictured in the front row, from left, are Morgan Zaidel, Sarah Price, Caroline Survill, Holly Hargreaves, Erin Sutphen, Amanda Douglass, Abby Lerner, Nicole Campellone, Alexa Kogan, and Kate Kerr. In the back row, from left, are Jenna Kalwa, Maddie Roe, Veronica Nagle, Alyssa Zurlo, Jenna Baratta, Catherine Brown, Shelby Pedersen, Marisa Edwards, Christine Niciforo, Kim Kornbluth, and Mason O’Brien. Not pictured are Samantha Lawson and Meghan Brennan.

With Hun’s Campellone Spearheading Defense, Match Fit Chelsea U16 Makes Super Y Semis

Bill Alden

While Nicole Campellone was fired up to be competing in the Super Y 2010 North American finals in Tampa, Fla. last month for the Match Fit Chelsea girls’ U16 travel soccer team, she was a little nervous as the competition approached.

“We were definitely excited because we didn’t make it into nationals last year,” said Campellone, a junior standout for the Hun School girls’ soccer team.

“We were apprehensive going into it; we were not sure of what to expect. We knew that we were going to be playing good teams and that we had to show up and compete hard if were going to make it to the semis and the finals.”

Campellone and her teammates proved they could compete at the national level as they won their group and advanced to the semifinals. Match Fit’s run ended in the semis with a 2-1 loss to Quickstrike FC (New York), the division’s defending national champion .

In Campellone’s view, Match Fit’s 2-0 win over West Coast Capitals (Vancouver B.C.) in the tournament opener set the tone for the success that followed.

“We didn’t start out as strong as we should have; we were not winning balls and keeping possession like we should,” said star defender Campellone recalling the contest which saw her Hun teammate Holly Hargreaves and WW/P-N star Christine Niciforo score the goals for Matchfit.

“At half it was 0-0 and we realized that if we lost, it would be tough for us to make the semis. We came out stronger and scored two goals in the second half.”

The squad went on to tie the Chicago Magic 1-1 on a goal by Jenna Baratta of Manalapan and beat Nordic Premier (Vermont) 2-0 on goals by Kate Kerr of Princeton High and Alexa Krogan of WW/P-N to go 2-0-1 in Group C. Match Fit won the group based on a better goal differential than the Magic.

Although Match Fit played superb soccer in making it through the group, Campellone asserted that the team played its best soccer in falling to Quickstrike as a goal by Alyssa Zurlo of Warren Hills wasn’t enough.

“They were the defending champs and we knew they were good,” said Campellone.

“That was our strongest game. We came out strong; we were winning balls. We wanted to win and we knew we had to take control. We were able to score the first goal but they had a few lucky opportunities at the end. We never let up; we played strong the whole way through.”

Although the semifinal exit was tough to swallow, Campellone saw positives in Match Fit’s overall performance.

“It was bittersweet, more bitter than sweet,” said Campellone. “We were upset that we had lost but getting to semis was something to be proud of. We are a new team in our age group. We feel like we made a name for ourselves and that other teams know we are good.”

Match Fit coach Michael Poller believed his players proved something to themselves. “I was pleased with our performance and how all the players did,” said Poller. “I was disappointed in the result but not in the effort, energy, and enthusiasm.”

Poller thought his players learned some valuable lessons from the setback in the semis.

“We played our best game of the week; there was not a major difference between us,” said Poller.

“We were as talented as them, if not more. We were as athletic, if not more. The difference was experience. We scored in the first 20 minutes. We could have been up 3-0 or 4-0. We had point blank shots that we hit over the bar. They were a little fortunate on their first goal; our goalie misplayed the hop. It came down to experience, they found a way to win.”

Matchfit found a way to come together as it blended top players from high school teams in and out of Mercer County.

“It was a matter of getting them together and getting to play how our team plays as opposed to their high school team,” said Poller.

“We usually practice on Sundays. In mid-November, after the high school season, we were able to get together a couple of times a week. I think that everyone was really excited for Tampa. For most of them, it was their first time competing at that level.”

Like Campellone, Poller viewed the win over the Capitals in the tournament opener as pivotal.

“They were very good; they had six or seven legit D-1 scholarship athletes,” said Poller.

“We defended well and found a way to get some goals and win. It put us in the driver’s seat for the rest of the week. If we don’t win that game, we probably don’t make the semis.”

Poller credited Campellone with spearheading the Match Fit defensive effort. “Nicole was probably our most consistent defender; she was incredible,” said Poller.

“She played almost every min of every game except for last 15 minutes of win over the Vermont team when I wanted her to get some rest before the semis the next day. She was very consistent and very sharp. She doesn’t make mistakes.”

“It was big for the girls in a number of ways,” added Poller. “They got experience playing in a big event. There were also a ton of college coaches and scouts there so they got some good exposure.”

Campellone and her teammates, for their part, were thrilled to get exposed to soccer on the national stage.

“Coach Poller says it is not pressure, it is an opportunity,” said Campellone, reflecting on competing in the national event.

“He tells us you are not going to get a lot of chances like this in your soccer career. That helped us relax and be composed. We wanted to make the most of opportunity.”

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