Injuries caused big problems for the Villa Joseph Marie soccer team last season. Erica Petrone, Meghan Bonner, Emily Market, and Deanna Stephens went down, and the Jems finished a disappointing 9-7.
"The injuries finally caught up to us - we had them all in one year," said Rich Finneyfrock, who has coached the Jems to three PIAA Class AA titles in the past seven years.
Petrone graduated and has gone on to Delaware to play, but the other three have returned, and they are healthy.
The Jems opened the season with wins in their first three games. Market has scored four goals, including a pair in the Jems' 2-0, season-opening win over Downingtown East. She had another goal in a double-overtime, 2-1 win over Archbishop Wood, which finished runner-up in the PIAA Class AAA playoffs last season.
"It's still early in the season, but we have some good chemistry," Finneyfrock said after his team thumped Perkiomen Valley, 5-1, Monday.
"I'm certainly happy with the results. It's a team game, and they have worked hard."
The coach had special praise for goalie Courtney Shaw. The Philadelphia University-bound senior has allowed only two goals.
Conestoga hot. After a 1-1-1 start in her team's first three games last season, Conestoga coach Meghan Brogan is happy that the team opened this season with three straight wins.
Even better, the Pioneers did not give up a goal in those three games.
Conestoga, which finished 19-5 last season, has scored wins over Owen J. Roberts (4-0), Penncrest (2-0) and Lansdale Catholic (4-0). Goalie Anna Walker recorded eight saves in the three shutouts.
"We've been lucky thus far," Brogan said. "A lot of the other team's shots have been wide, and we've been able to cover the goal when we needed to. I told them that Lansdale Catholic reminded me a lot of our team last year. We didn't have a lot of seniors, but we got better as the season went on. There's always area for improvement."
Broghan said she was pleased that the Pioneers' scoring has been spread around. Marley Jennings is the team's top scorer with three goals, but seven other players have scored.
Panthers on track? Strath Haven, which was beaten by Unionville in overtime in last season's District 1 Class AAA quarterfinals, got a little revenge for that loss with a 2-1 overtime win over the Indians on Saturday.
"That loss to Unionville cost us a berth in the state playoffs," coach Gino Miraglia said.
Although the season is young, Miraglia is hoping that win can be a springboard to the Panthers' making the state playoffs. That and some speed from the girls' track team.
"We have eight starting seniors, so there are some high expectations for this team," Miraglia said.
Seniors Gina DiTaranto, Morgan Brawley and Lexi Mazur; junior Morgan Glassford; and sophomores Kristen Miller and Allie Wilson should make the Panthers contenders for the Central League title, which they have won six of the last seven years.
Both Miller, a forward who missed some time last season because of shin problems, and Wilson, a defender, are members of the track team. Mazur, a four-year starter on defense, is headed to Columbia for lacrosse.
DiTaranto, who scored the goals in the win over Unionville, will play for Delaware.
Contact staff writer Don Beideman at 267-815-0733 or dbeideman@phillynews.com.
