RED BANK – The talk all off season was how good and dominating Shore Regional is, Freehold Township primed for more success, A North is the toughest division in the Shore Conference. While all great story lines and valid conversations, no one talked about Red Bank Catholic.
The worst thing to do in sports is to underestimate your opponent and to give them extra motivation. It is that motivation that has propelled the Caseys to a current overall record of 14-2 and the A Central crown over Shore Regional and Rumson-Fair Haven with a conference record of 6-0.
Coach Frank Lawrence, entering his sixth season, has the Caseys riding high entering the Shore Conference Tournament as the No. 2 seed and most likely a No. 1 seed in South Jersey. Red Bank Catholic opened their Shore Conference Tournament play with a 2-0 win over Southern Regional. The Caseys led, 1-0, at the half with a goal from freshman Morgan Cupo on an assist from senior Caroline O’Connor. Red Bank Catholic put the game away in the second half when O’Connor found the back of the net on an assist from sophomore Aubrey Silverman.
Next up for the Caseys was a rematch with conference foe Rumson-Fair Haven. Earlier in the year, Red Bank Catholic topped the Bulldogs, 2-0. This time around the Bulldogs were ready for the Caseys and had several chances during the first half to take the lead, but Red Bank Catholic’s defense and keeper turned away each threat. The Caseys eventually chipped away and senior Sofia Giamanco found the back of the net for the game winner in a 1-0 quarterfinal win. Senior Anthi Panayides made four saves to secure the shutout.
Red Bank Catholic came into the season eager to get back to work after last season’s loss to Paul VI, 1-0, in the second round of South Jersey Non-Public A South tournament.
The Caseys returned 13 letter winners and mixed in seven newcomers. The mix of veteran leadership with energized youth has the Caseys back in the semifinals of the Shore Conference and looking for another SCT Championship as well as looking to raise the state trophy as well.
Leading the way for Red Bank Catholic offensively is senior Juliana Rafaniello with 12 goals this season and 42 goals for her career. After the season, Rafaniello will be passing the scoring torch to Cupo, who has come in as a freshman and has already contributed with 10 goals and leadership.
The Caseys are primed for a great finish in 2018 and more importantly are set for next season with the production from Cupo, junior Katelyn Bertodo with four goals, sophomore Silverman with four goals and junior Madison Holloway with six assists.
What Lawrence and Red Bank Catholic will be missing next season is the steady leadership and production in goal from three-year starter senior Panayides. Lawrence will look to Johnna Graham and Cleo Grignald to step forward and keep the production in goal going for the Red Bank Catholic program.
