Forcellini a leader, in any weather

It was raining, cold, and dark, the wind was whipping, and the Cinnaminson girls' soccer team had just suffered the type of loss that can change the feel of an entire season.

Optimism is often hard to find in these moments.

But after that 2-1 loss to division rival Holy Cross, Pirates coach Matt Digney quickly pointed to the leadership of his senior class - to the determination of his star player, senior forward Becky Forcellini.

"I can promise you one thing," Digney said. "They won't let another loss like this happen."

For four years, Forcellini has been a key piece to one of the perennial contenders in the Burlington County League Liberty Division. She's one of the clutch scorers in South Jersey, and she knows what it takes to defend her team's division title.

"Nothing is going to come easy to us this year," Forcellini said. "Everybody wants to come out and beat us because we won the championship last year.

"So, losing to Holy Cross was a learning experience. We know how hard we have to work both in practice and in games. And we know we have to defend our title."

After coughing up a 1-0 lead in the second half to Holy Cross (2-1), the Pirates (2-1) are in an early hole in a division in which they were heavily favored.

The Liberty is strong this season, with Cinnaminson, Holy Cross, Moorestown, and Burlington Township fielding formidable competition. But, even with the early loss, Digney is confident in his team's chances.

Cinnaminson is led by seven seniors, all of whom were named captains this season. Among those seniors is one of the strongest goalkeepers in South Jersey, Vicky Cocozza.

But the Pirates' greatest weapon is Forcellini, a UNC-Charlotte recruit who netted eight game-winning goals last season and added another in Cinnaminson's 1-0 overtime victory over Delran on opening day.

"There isn't any one way to really mark her because there are so many ways that she can beat you," said Digney, in his second year at Cinnaminson. "And she's a leader. She's a leader on and off the field. She's just a hard worker, and understands that the hard work she puts in will get results."

As to her penchant for scoring big goals, Forcellini said she thrives on big moments.

"I like pressure," she said. "I feel like I do play better when I'm under that pressure. It's always better to score that goal when the game is close rather than when we're up by five goals."

Forcellini has her sights set on a division title. But more than that, she wants one last shot at a South Jersey Group 2 title.

The Pirates fell to Haddonfield, winner of three of the last four South Jersey Group 2 titles, in the sectional tournament in two of the last three seasons.

"So maybe we can actually get past Haddonfield this season," Forcellini said. "We just need to keep working hard and make sure we're always on the same page. We know what it's going to take."

Contact Chris Melchiorre at rallysports@phillynews.com.