Middletown South Girls Soccer ended a truly historic season with a 22-2 record, an A North Title and a North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 championship. Earlier in the season, on the heels of their notable tenth straight win, I sat down with Coach Megan Barry, South English teacher, to get the inside scoop on what was making the season so special so early.

Danny:

So… 10-0.

Coach Barry

It’s awesome.

D:

What’s behind the run?

CB:

We have a lot of returners who have now been playing together for a year or more, so they’ve established relationships–they understand the style of play that we run in the program. And the relationships are there when it comes to working hard for one another and having the same, everyone has the same goal, and the same goal is always to go out and play their hardest. And that when they walk off the field they feel like they haven’t left anything out there, so that’s very nice. 

D:

So, with 10 wins in 10 games, what’s the best moment in this stretch? 

CB:

Yeah, I think that the Allentown game was a big change for us, and it was not only that but it was also after practice beforehand. The day before the Allentown game, we were sitting as a big group, and the captains, Maddie and Emma Laudisi and Filomena DiGregorio, were talking to the group. And they were talking about the seriousness of the season and the seriousness of that game because that was our first big game for the season. You could just feel there was an energy where everyone was together and they all really wanted it. And from that point we went into the Allentown game and even though we were behind the goal to start, we came together and they came out in the second half and ran over that team. Everyone afterward looked at each other after the game and we were like, “Okay, we can do something cool this year.” 

D:

I remember you guys last year lost to them, and then to come back and win…that’s such a good moment In fact, do you know the blonde twins on that team? 

CB:
I don’t.

D:

I was friends with one of them, and once you guys beat them, she stopped talking to me. So thanks for stealing my friends.

CB:

 (Laughs) Oh my gosh I’m so sorry! Our soccer is affecting your personal friends.

D:

Yeah it’s cool though. So, you have a lot of seniors: what’s your thoughts on that when this terrific class and the future of the program?

CB:

I’ll be so sad to see the seniors leave, and I can’t even think about it really because a lot of them have been with me since the day they started, you know? A few of those girls have been 80 minute players and every single game from freshman all the way through their senior year and even if they weren’t, they joined in their sophomore or junior year, whatever it was and they joined us seamlessly. But I think the future’s bright, and I think we still have a lot of young, talented girls who are now getting the experience and seeing what it takes to be a successful team. I mean, there’s a lot of really great girls all the way through from freshman, sophomore, and junior classes that can that can help us get the job done again next year. 

D:

So this question is a little out there, but was there a funny moment that stands out?

CB:

Oh, good question. Hold on, you put me on the spot to think of a good one. I mean there’s always giggling and laughing. We have some pretty funny personalities. Angie Shekian just makes us laugh all the time. She’s always dancing. But I’ll have to get back to you with a good one. 

D:

Another question I wanted to ask is about what goes into every game for you guys. What makes soccer unique in that aspect, especially with such a competitive team looking to do some big things? 

CB:

I guess, there’s a process that goes into it from the beginning of the season, it’s obviously preparation and fitness. I’m getting a scheme going. And then from there, once we’re ready in that sense, we’re able to work on the tactics, figuring out how to play a good possession style game, how to really work as a unit, you know? Sometimes my assistant coach, Coach Smith, he’ll go and scout teams so we can talk about some formation changes that needs to happen in response. And I, of course, I’m always working on trying to maintain a positive team chemistry and want to make sure that they’re doing things together, but I think the big thing for me is coaching through the games, and that’s when they really learn the most. I find that me talking them through specific scenarios as it’s going on against high level teams is the most beneficial for me. 

We are excited to announce that They Said It With Danny DeCrescenzo will become a podcast series that will appear on the Eagle Eye website with a schedule to be determined.