Sports Shorts

The Monroe U13 Lady Falcons won their third straight game and improved to 4- 1 in MidMonmouth league play with a 35-31 victory over Millstone. Monroe led all the way and opened a 20-10 lead at halftime. Millstone made a run and narrowed the gap to 28-27 in the third quarter. Monroe's defense clamped down in the final frame to allow only four points.

Jena Pritzlaff and Jackie Racine each poured in 10 points. Kylie Davidson (seven points) and Samantha Clark (six points) also provided scoring, and Christina Felice added a basket. Keriann Manziano, Meghan Mc- Claren and Alexa Carini each gave key defensive minutes down the stretch.

Monroe continues league play this week with games against Manalapan and Holmdel.

The U11 Old Bridge Thunder, unbeaten in their last four league games, defeated the Manalapan Menace 3-2 in Manalapan on Sunday. Goalkeeper Gina Colamonico and defenders Angelique Giglio, Kristina Hourican, Tanvi Lodhia and Nicole Velez kept the Menace attack in check for most of the match. Down 1-0, Alexis Suarez connected from about 15 yards out, then, down 2-1, Suarez connected on a beautiful through-ball from Elana Konichowsky for the equalizer. Suarez then returned the favor with a cross that Konichowsky finished for the game-winner with about seven minutes left to play. Spirited play was provided by Gianna Taranto, Vanessa Mantione, Samantha Potts, Alyssa Kramer, Alexandria D'Acunto, Samantha Hourican and Katherine Conway. The Thunder are now in second place in the MOSA Premier division.

In the second round of the Central Jersey Pop Warner Playoffs last Wednesday in Fords, the Cougars got off to a slow start but kicked it in gear with touchdown passes of 26 and 85 yards from Jordan Fetterman to Julanee Prince. Minkah Fitzpatrick capped off the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown run. Daniel Grillo, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Chris DeCicco and Tom Shivers led the Cougars' defensive effort with strong performances as the Cougars defeated the West Windsor Plainsboro Wildcats 21-0.

At the Central Jersey Pride Bowl Semifinal game this past Sunday at Fords Park, the Fords Bearcats hosted the Raritan Bay Cougars Pee Wees. Cougars quarterback Brian Gearghty hit Ziggy Tykarski on a 27-yard pass to set up a 23-yard touchdown run by Dwayne Trawick. Gearghty put together another scoring drive by hitting Chris Weber on a 15-yard pass to the Bearcats' oneyard line to set up a touchdown run by Chris Weber. The Cougar defense was led by Kevin Solamea, who recovered a fumble, and Dwayne Trawick, who picked off a Bearcat pass. Alan Jackson was also a key for the strong defense. The Cougars defeated the Bearcats 13-6

The Central Jersey Championship was played in Allentown, with the 9-0 Raritan Bay Cougars going up against the 9-0 Hopewell Valley Bulldogs.

The Cougars set the tone of the game on the Bulldogs' first drive with a 37-yard interception from Brandon Giles, who took the ball down to the Bulldogs' nine-yard line. Two plays later, Mike Friedman had a fouryard touchdown run to put the Cougars ahead 6-0, and they never looked back on their way to a 32-6 win.