Sports Shorts

Senior Michelle Poole and juniors Faith Richards and Emily Penn have been named team captains of the Rutgers women's lacrosse team, head coach Laura Brand-Sias announced Friday. The three were chosen after a team vote.

Poole is in her second-consecutive season as team captain. In 2008 she tied her career-high with 20 goals, previously set in 2006 and 2007, and finished with a career high seven assists. A midfielder who is a key figure to the Scarlet Knights' offense and defense, she also recorded 24 ground balls, 12 draw controls and 11 caused turnovers. Poole has started 49 of her career 50 games.

Penn started at defense for all 17 games in 2008, recording a career-high 29 caused turnovers to lead the Scarlet Knights. She also led the team in ground balls with a career-high 38. The Medford native started 13 of 17 games in 2007, tallying 33 ground balls, 11 draw controls and nine caused turnovers.

A midfielder, Richards played her freshman season at Virginia Tech before transferring to Rutgers prior to last season. She started 15 of 17 games as a Hokie, recording 11 goals, seven assists, 15 ground balls, 12 draw controls and six caused turnovers. In her first season as a Scarlet Knight, the junior played in all 17 games, starting six.

The Prestige Riding Academy Show Team took top honors in the 2008 Delaware Valley Horsemen Association's Hunter Show series. Winning Grand Champion in the Pre-Children's division and Reserve Champion in the Howell Medal class was Kylie Stavola of East Brunswick on her horse Star Seeker. Reserve Champion awards went to Crysta Berntsein in Pre- Children's Equitation, Erin Cole in the Jr. Equitation division and Jessica Hernandez in the Short Stirrup division. Third place in the Pleasure division was Mathew Annuzzi. Rounding out the team are Emma Brown and Ryan Swetits who also placed in their respective divisions. Prestige Riding Academy is located on Route 516 in Old Bridge.

The East Brunswick Wildcats U10 Girls Premier travel team ended their season with a tough 1-0 loss against the Long Valley Pride in a game whose outcome would determine a first place finish in Flight One of the Mid New Jersey Youth Soccer Club. The Wildcats season finished their season with a record of three wins, two losses and five ties. Coach Steven Blaustein and assistant coach Chris Ciaccio could not have been more proud of the girls' effort this season and could never have dreamed the Wildcats would be playing for first place in only their second season in Flight One. The Wildcats players are Gabrielle Blaustein, Melissa Ciaccio, Blake Merwin- Lew, Lizzie Toto, Courtney Brancato, Ciara Gaertner, Sara Gilbert, Dominque Brancato, Jessica Cortez, Jennifer Brauer, Swathi Chikoti, Sarah Shnayder, Sydney Greenspan and team mascots Madison Blaustein and Danielle Blaustein. Thanks to the parents for all of their support and the Wildcats will be back this spring for another fun-filled competitive season.

Cheesequake Baseball/Softball league will be holding registration for the 2009 season. In person, registration will be held on Saturday Nov. 29, and Dec.13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cheesequake Baseball Fields located on Route 9 North and Schulmeister Road in Old Bridge.

Teams will be drafted in early March. Mail-in registration is available by going to the Web site at www.leaguelineup.com/cqba; click on Handouts to download an application.

The league will supply the bats. The Major Division will be playing 50-70.

For more information, or questions, call Nick Antuofermo at 732-887-1014 and leave a message.

The Old Bridge Sharks Girls U9 Soccer Team capped off their 2008 fall travel season with a decisive 4-0 shutout of the Manalapan Sparks on Friday night. The Shark attack was led by first-half goals by Jaspen Kaur and Emily Valazza, and followed up with second-half tallies by Mackenzie Willis and Gina Somma. Amanda Matsoukaditis and Justine Guardino provided the shutout goalkeeping for the Sharks. The victory clinched third place for the Sharks in MOSA's Premier 1 Flight. The Sharks are: Amanda Abair, Carina Femiano, Justine Guardino, Jaspen Kaur, Toni Ann Kilaras, Amanda Matsoukaditis, Noelle Petrusky, Erin Rynkiewicz, Gina Somma, Emily Valazza, Kate Wagner and Mackenzie Willis.

Congratulations to the Old Bridge Riptide girls U8 soccer team. The girls had a very successful first season together as a travel team coming out on top with an impressive 7-3 record. This secured them a second-place finish for the season in the Jersey Coast Youth Soccer league. Stay tuned for more good news in the spring from this up and coming bunch of girls: Nichole Adams, Mackenzie Cangro, Alexandra Delahunt, Amanda Ford, Caitlin Froom, Cidney Lee-Sam, Alexa Listah, Ashleigh Morrissey, Samantha Pacheco, Lauren Shafer, Lindsay Shafer, Danielle Somohano and Isabel Yu. Kudos to the awesome coaching of Brian Morrissey, Alex Somohano and Phil Froom.

The Raritan Bay Cougars traveled south to Brick to play the FBR Tar Heels of Washington, D.C. The Cougars continue to write history as they defeated the Tarheels 35-18 to advance to the Regional Championship game this Friday Nov. 28 at 12:15 p.m. at Toms River South H.S.

The Cougars jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter with an offensive drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Michael Friedman. On the Tar Heels first possession, they fumbled the ball and Minkah Fitzpatrick picked it up and dashed 56 yards for a score.

The Tar Heels cut the lead to 14-6 on the next drive, and then the Cougars answered that score with a 19-yard pass from Jordan Fetterman where Daniel Grillo made an acrobatic catch in the end zone. The Tar Heels put together another drive to cut the lead to 21-12.

The Cougars came back with another scoring drive of their own which was led by key runs from Fetterman. With the score 28- 12 the Cougars sealed the game with another drive ending with a 5-yard touchdown run by Minkah Fitzpatrick and extra point by Jordan.