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TheJournalNJ.com | OCTOBER 2021 39
Brookdale Community College’s new women’s soccer coach is
well aware of what is expected of the team and its reputation. Nil
Onder, who has replaced Katie Amundson as head coach, is both
an ex-Jersey Blue player herself and assistant coach.
“Every season making the national tournament is always our
goal,” said Onder. “We were always carrying that expectation. Teams
always gang up on BCC.”
Teams have ganged up on Brookdale’s women because year
in and year out, they are one of the country’s best teams. They have
three national championships (2013-15) along with seven Region
XIX titles and 11 Garden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) crowns on
their resumé. It’s not
just the expectations
that Onder is up
against; she is replacing
a national championship
coach.
“I have big shoes
adding that her goal
was to continue
Brookdale’s championship
tradition
started by Amundson.
Amundson is now
the college’s athletic
director.
Onder was a mid-
in 2008-09, winning a
GSAC championship.
She joined Amundson’s
staff as a volunteer
in 2014 and was
part of the team that
won the 2014 and
2015 national championships.
She became the assistant in 2016 and took over as the head
coach this spring when the Blues played an abbreviated schedule. Having
been Amundson’s assistant, Onder was familiar with the Brookdale
players and they with her. Not much was going to change.
“It was an easy transition,” she noted.
Although nothing was on the line for the Blues this past spring,
“It was great to see the girls out there outside playing soccer,” the
coach noted.
Brookdale’s women began the season in a familiar position,
ranked No. 9 in the nation among Division III junior colleges. Onder
believes the Blues have the talent to back up that ranking.
“We have a solid, well-balanced team,” she remarked. “We have
a great mix of veterans and freshmen. We’re well rounded. We can score
and defend.”
The Blues have a number of versatile players who can play more than
one position like sophomores Alexa Hansen (Central Regional, MF/F) and
Kayln Melando (Pt. Pleasant Boro, MF/D). The other multi-position players
are freshmen Paige Coulahan (Howell, MF/D), Taylor Pagano (Howell, F/MF),
Lianna Quezda (Old Bridge, MF), Milena Alves (Long Branch, (MF/D) and
Agustina Castano (Keyport, F/MF). Carlie Ferraro (Shore Regional), a freshman,
heads up the forward line. Kailie Benko (Matawan), a sophomore,
(Shore Regional) and Jaimieline Rosal (Neptune). The goalie is freshman
Emma Bennett (Middletown South).
In addition to just being able to play meaningful games again this
fall, the Blues have something else to look forward to: their newly sodded
home pitch.
It may be a new pitch, but it seems like it’s the same old talented Blues
who will be playing on it.
Photo courtesy of Brookdale Community College Athletics.
Brookdale Community College’s new women’s soccer coach,
Nil Onder, is a former player who served as the program’s
assistant coach before taking over this year for Katie
Amundson who remains the college’s athletic director.
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/TheJournalNJ.com