Golden Bears look to repeat as league champs
By Jim Hague
It was a glorious first season for Kim Hykey as the head girls’ soccer coach at her alma mater Lyndhurst High School, guiding the Golden Bears to a 14-5-1 record and the New Jersey Interscholastic Conference Meadowlands A Division championship, the first league championship for the program since 1994.
Now, Hykey, the school’s all-time leading goal scorer who went on to have a fine career at Seton Hall, has the Golden Bears primed and ready for another go-round.
“I think they’re all hungry for more,” Hykey said. “We want to do more. We haven’t won a (Bergen) County game since my senior year (2003) and we want to go further in the state tournament. I know they’re all disappointed the way the season ended last year and they never want to feel that way again. They’re all into it.”
Hykey said that she’s blessed to have a senior class that has been together since they were toddlers.
“We have 12 seniors who have been together since they were six years old, playing so much together since they were little kids,” Hykey said. “That says a lot.”
Hykey also has a year of head coaching under her belt.
“It definitely helps having that year,” Hykey said. “I’m definitely more comfortable and it’s definitely different being the head coach. But I think we’re all excited about this season.”
It shows, as the Golden Bears have exploded to a 4-0 start in early stages of the season.
“I’m definitely pleased,” Hykey said. “We told the team early on that we expected them to be better this year; that we wanted to build on what happened last season.”
Having a veteran team will enable Hykey to do that.
Senior captain Amanda Uhlick, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee, requiring surgery last April, has made the move from the midfield, where she scored five goals last season, to goalkeeper to remain part of the team as the knee continues to heal.
“Amanda used to be a goalie when she was younger,” Hykey said. “So she has the background.”
When Uhlick can’t mind the net, then sophomore Bianca Fata steps in and handles things well.
It also helps to have a veteran back line returning.
Senior Nicole Baratta is the team’s sweeper and another captain. Baratta, a four-year starter for the Golden Bears on defense, earned All-NJIC honors last year.
“She absolutely has to be our vocal leader,” Hykey said of Baratta. “She’s our leader.”
Baratta also has another top distinction. She’s currently ranked No. 1 in her senior class, so she’s a leader in the classroom as well.
Sophomore Dina Ingenito is the team’s stopper. Hykey calls Ingenito “the most natural player we have on the team.”
Seniors Nina Motichka and Amanda Torppey are the other defenders. Motichka has been a varsity player for four years like Baratta. Torppey is a tough defender and adds to a very solid and experienced back line.
“It’s important, especially with our goalie situation, to have that kind of experience back there,” Hykey said. “It takes a lot of pressure off the goalies. We have a solid four in front of the goalie and that helps everyone out and gives me a little piece of mind.”
In the midfield, the Golden Bears look to senior center midfielder Kristin Raimo to lead the way. Raimo is Lyndhurst’s do-everything and controls the game when she’s on the field.
“She’s our go-to player,” Hykey said. “We go as she goes. She wants to be in control and I love that.”
Sophomore Amanda Nowak is another midfielder who possesses a booming leg.
“She takes all our direct kicks, because she has such a strong leg,” Hykey said. “She scored one goal already this year from 35 yards out. She has a very powerful leg.”
Junior Dana Halligan and sophomore Angela Sammarone are also quality midfielders for the Golden Bears.
The forward line is headed by sophomore Grace Tomko, who has absolutely exploded out of the box. Tomko has scored eight goals thus far, including four in a recent win.
“I couldn’t ask for more from her,” Hykey said of Tomko, who scored eight goals all of last season as a freshman to lead the team in scoring. “I made her a forward last year because I felt we didn’t have anyone aggressive enough to get to the ball. I told her before the season that I expected her to score at least 15 goals this season and she’s on her way. She wants the ball and she’s a good goal scorer up front.”
Junior Alexandra Crujeiras is the other Lyndhurst forward. Crujeiras has also been a major plus for the Golden Bears this season, scoring five goals in the early going.
“She’s a good goal scorer,” Hykey said of Crujeiras, who scored two goals in the Lyndhurst win over Harrison last week.
Needless to say, things are going according to plan for the Lyndhurst girls’ soccer program.
“I’m very pleased with the start,” Hykey said. “We’ve won all four games so I couldn’t ask for more. I think we’ll know more next week how good we really are.”
