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Friday, October 21, 2011

GIRLS SOCCER:Lyndhurst wins second straight title, but celebration is muted

Becton's Anna Jezewska.

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

WALLINGTON – For 15 consecutive years, the preseason speech was always the same. Lyndhurst girls soccer was striving to finish its season as a league champion, but the postseason speech never matched expectations. That all changed last year and the new the challenge was getting the returning players to rev up their motors to defend that title. By infusing senior leadership with talented underclassmen, the Golden Bears are making what once was a pipe dream into a habit. In just her fourth game on varsity, Cassie Franchino netted a pair of first-half goals as Lyndhurst successfully defended its NJIC Meadowlands Division crown with 3-0 win on Thursday over Becton/Wallington. “We always talk about putting teams on their heels in the first 10 minutes” said Lyndhurst head coach Kimberly Hykey. “I thought we passed the ball well and used the whole field. Cassie Franchino has really given us a spark on offense since we moved her into the starting lineup and she came up big again today.” Lyndhurst got in the board first 12 minutes in when Franchino ran onto a long clear from Dina Ingenito for a breakaway goal to put the Golden Bears ahead 1-0. MORE...

Becton's Kristen Reichert.

SEPTEMBER
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL:Becton's win over Secaucus a long time coming