Council Rock North looks primed for the postseason

Last year, Council Rock North looked to 2014 graduate Madison Gouza to provide most of the Lady Indians’ offense. The year before, then seniors Gabby Toufig (28 goals) and Alex Kuzma (31) scored most of the team’s goals.

This year, the Rock is winning with teamwork.

Every player on the roster has at least one point and most have scored at least one goal on the season.

In a recent shutout win Oct. 1 on the turf at Truman, junior Jennica Jonovich and scoring leader Anna Lehman, a sophomore, scored two goals each to lead North to a 7-0 triumph over the Tigers. Rachel Pomerantz, Jackie Salantri and Micayla Young added single goals for the Rock.

For both Young and Salantri, it was their first goal of the season. For the Indians, it was their 13th win of the season, their 10th in the Suburban One League (SOL) National Conference.

North is winning consistently this season, says long-time head coach Heather Whalin, with a total team effort.

“If a team tries to mark one of our players, they can’t shut us down because everybody scores; everyone contributes,’ says Whalin.

“You can mark Anna (Lehman) all you want; we’re going to score in other places.’

What’s more, Rock is winning without one of its best players — senior Amrit Ahluwalia, who was injured in a 3-0 win over Neshaminy. Amrit tallied five goals before spraining her ankle in the Sept. 11 contest and that’s from a backfield position.

Losing Ahluwalia forced the Indians to scramble their lineup. Stepping in to perform the inserts that Amrit had charge over before her injury is Pomerantz. Sophomore Julianne Mangano — who was also hurt in the Neshaminy game — moved to defensive midfielder, Theresa Delahanty went to center-back and forward Claire Jarema moved to left-midfield.

It’s all in the name of the team, which comes first for this group, says Whalin.

“It’s always we, never I,’ said Whalin.

“I’ve never had a team that works this much together and really care for each other and treat each other like sisters when they’re out there.

“When they’re tired, they look left and right and they work hard for their sisters.

“There are no egos on the team and that helps; no one cares about breaking records, they care about team things.’

Anchoring the Rock’s defense along with returning First Team All-SOL goalkeeper Julia Singer are Pomerantz, also a returning starter, and junior Hannah Stalker.

“I can’t say enough about Rachel and Hannah on defense,’ says Whalin. “They have saved our butts in that position back there this season.’