Girls Soccer – VOTE: Week 5 Surf Taco Player of the Week

It's time for the Week 5 installment of the Surf Taco Girls Soccer Player of the Week Contest. Below are eight standouts from the week that was in Shore Conference girls soccer. Read about their big weeks and vote for the one who was the best of the best in the poll at the bottom of the post. Vote early and often until the poll closes at 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Nominees Listed Alphabetically

Erica Blackburn, St. John Vianney

The Lancers won three must-win games last week behind a stellar defense and exception play in goal by Blackburn. The senior turned in a shutout in three wins over Matawan, Wall and Ocean and saved 34 shots in the process.

Caitlyn Decker, Red Bank

The Bucs attack has been deadly lately and Decker has been at the heart of it. The sophomore scored two goals each in wins over Colts Neck and Neptune and added another one in a win over Marlboro. The two goals against Colts Neck were especially noteworthy considering the Cougars were still in the running for the Shore Conference Class B North title and had just defeated defending SCT champion Wall.

Gianna Ferigne, Brick

After chipping in an assist in a big, 3-2, rivalry win over Brick Memorial earlier in the week, Ferigne saved her best performance for one of her team’s toughest opponent of the week. Pinelands entered and left Friday’s game against Brick with one loss after the two teams tied, 2-2, and Ferigne scored both of her team’s goals in the draw.

Victoria Gelosi, Donovan Catholic

Gelosi found herself in a goal-scoring groove last week, putting up two goals and an assist in a Donovan Catholic win over Long Branch and doing the same in a knock-down, drag-out, overtime battle against Barnegat, which the Griffins ultimately lost.

Jessica Judge, Freehold Twp.

The Patriots had a big week last week, not only going 3-0 but doing so against a schedule that carried some heavy-hitters. Judge scored in both of those games, notching a goal against defending Group III runner-up Middletown South and scoring the game-winner against Class A South contender Jackson Memorial on Saturday – all while playing on a defense that authored two shutouts in three tries during the week.

Emma Laudisi, Middletown South

Laudisi came through with one of Middletown South’s two goals in a tight loss to Freehold Township and then went off for a hat trick in a 3-0 Eagles win over Howell a couple days later to help Middletown South continue its scramble to get into the Shore Conference Tournament.

Frankie McDonough, Shore

Shore has been engaged in some battles this year and scoring has not been much of a problem for the Blue Devils in any of them. Last week, McDonough was the most consistent offensive performer on a team that both scored and allowed nine goals last week. The senior assisted the team’s lone goal of a 4-1 loss to Red Bank Catholic, then scored two to go with an assist in a 5-3 win over Rumson. McDonough capped the week with two assists in an overtime win over Colts Neck.

Heather Van Deventer, Point Boro

After slipping up against Point Beach in a rivalry game, Point Boro responded with much-needed wins over Manchester and Ocean. Van Deventer came through in both wins, scoring a goal and assisting another in the 2-1 win over Manchester and slamming in two goals in a 4-2 victory over Ocean on Saturday.