Parsippany Girls Soccer Seniors Mourn What Could Have Been

PARSIPPANY, NJ - When Paul Koeck, coach of the Parsippany High School Girls Soccer Team, found out COVID-19 cut short the fall sports season for his seniors, he was angry.

After all of the work and struggle and sacrifice his team has put in to be ready to play this fall during the pandemic, an outbreak brought their season to a close.

"These girls have brought me so much happiness over the last few years and to see them lose a season out of nowhere, especially the seniors, was devastating," Koeck said. "The fact that we worked so hard all year after a disappointing start and started peaking at the right time gave us all a sense of accomplishment and excitement entering the tourney."

Koeck is no stranger to Parsippany, having graduated from the district in 1992, returning to be a Central Middle School 8th Grade Science/S.S. Co-Teacher and coach. Koeck spent three years with boys freshman soccer team, seven years with the JV girls before taking on the varsity slot for the last three years.

The 2020 team was comprised of eight seniors, five juniors and three freshman. Koeck noted some standouts on his squad:

• Nicole Rago: committed to Binghampton 1st Team All-Conference
• Giovanna Stull: 1st team all-conference, honorable mention All-County 2 years
• Mariah Colon: All-Conference

He also expressed fondness for his other seniors individually like Christina Peterson (midfielder), Tatjana Dobrijevic (Midfielder), Emily Chacon (forward), Jamie Solomon (defender) and Sarah Katz (goalie/defender). But all of them have one connecting quality.

"Once the whistle blew it was a guarantee that these girls were going to play with 100 percent heart and effort," Koeck said.

Koeck said that these seniors won the 1st conference title in 30 years for PHS when they were sophomores, tied #18 in the state as sophomores, beat #1 Lyndhurst in states last year.

"They are the type of team that can go out and compete with anyone in the state even though we don’t have the numbers of even a group 2 school," he said. "Only 37 players a year have come out and that’s up from the past."

Like a lot of high school teams, these girls play on various club teams so most of them only play together throughout the high school season, and Koeck said this season provided many challenges.

"When we had to stop summer sessions, it was hard to keep the motivation and comradery of the program going. We used Google Classroom, Remind app, & Map My Run app to keep track of training," Koeck said. "Daily COVID forms, masks on the field while not playing, masks on the bus, rescheduled games, so you’d have a full week of practice."

Led by eight seniors, Parsippany started year off by tying state champ Mountain Lakes.

"The next few games were a struggle until we found the right lineup and started working together as a team. Ended up going 3-1-1 in last five," Koeck said. "Beat Kinnelon 3-1 and lost to Villa the next day after losing Nicole Rago and being banged up."

Koeck said the team started clicking at the right time, similar to the last two years when they lost in the state semis to eventual section champs.

"We were really looking forward to sending these seniors out the way they deserve. After battling through all the adversity and starting to play tough and together, it’s a shame that the girls don’t get to prove themselves once again in the playoffs," he told Patch.

Off the field, Koeck said his team likes to joke around and socialize, which they had to learn to put aside once they started making their end-of-season run. A run that ended when a COVID imposed quarantine knocked them out of the playoffs.

"This was the year that we were aiming to get passed the semis after losing 1-0 the last two years. To know your last high school career game is coming is tough enough. Having your four-year career end so abruptly just seems so unfair to such an amazing group of girls," Koeck said. "I immediately sent all the girls a message apologizing and promising to do everything I could to have us play at least one more game together."

If that is possible remains to be seen. Last spring, some teams were able to participate in a "last dance" style tournament. Koeck said this year it may not be easy.

"We seem like only one a few girls teams to be quarantined out of the tournament, so I do not foresee a Last Dance type tournament," Koeck said. "It would be an absolute gift if there was a way to get the girls on the field together one more time, even if it is just for an inter-squad."

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