By Rich Fisher, Contributing Editor
Top photo: The St. John Vianney girls soccer team will be led by a stellar group of seniors this season, including (front row, from left) Jolie Ferber, Gianna Cerniglia, Caitlin Stavros; (back row, from left) Gabby Parker, Colleen Sullivan, Maya Pflug and Hannah Martiak. Courtesy photo
Coach Heather Bailey is proud of her St. John Vianney, Holmdel, girls soccer team.
Not just because it carried a 3-0 record into its Sep. 10 game with Manchester, but because those good players are also good people.
“We’re very homed in on giving back,” Bailey said. “In general, it’s interwoven into the expectations for any student at St. John Vianney but as a student-athlete, obviously you’re more in front of things. I say, ‘Girls, we are the face, more or less.’ When you’re an athlete, you’re just out there more. So, we want to be sure we’re representing appropriately in the classroom, on the field and in society.”
The Lancers do that well. Several of them are members of Catholic Athletes for Christ and the team prays before and after each game. On several Saturdays this summer they teamed with Vincent’s Legacy – a volunteer-driven furniture ministry operating in Monmouth and Ocean counties – to help deliver furniture to those in need. They also volunteered their time at the Monmouth County Soccer Camp.
“They’re learning soccer but learning a lot of other things too,” Bailey said. “These girls are the epitome of a student-athlete. They’re strong in the classroom, they respect their opponents. That’s what makes them kind of unique. They’re all very nice girls but they also want to win. They have the ability to flip the switch.”
It’s all systems go when they flip it. Coming off a 12-7-1 season, SJV won its first three matches by a combined 13-3 count. The Lancers have remained stellar despite graduating 12 seniors, including three now playing in college.
A key has been the return of junior Kennedy Wallace, a University of South Carolina commit who had 13 goals and 14 assists last season, senior captain and Iona commit Gabby Parker (11 goals, 3 assists in 2025), and junior Delilah Joyce. Wallace and Parker have combined for seven goals while Joyce is a constant grinder.
Parker missed her entire freshman season and most of her sophomore year with a torn ACL.
“Last year was her first full season getting back into it,” Bailey said. “She came on at the end of September. This is the first year she’s really healthy from the beginning of the season. She’s such a great girl. She’s technical, has a high soccer IQ. When she’s around the net, she’s very dangerous.
“Kennedy, in my opinion, is one of the best players in Shore Conference. She’s a box-to-box midfielder, she can see the field, has great vision and a non-stop motor. Technically she’s great with the ball at her feet. Having those two as catalysts in the midfield is big for us.”
Then there is Joyce, a defensive center-mid who also plays center-back. She doesn’t rack up statistics but, at 5-foot-11, does the dirty work.
“She’s awesome, she does all the stuff in the middle of the field that doesn’t get all the accolades,” Bailey said. “She deals with the physicality, winning the ball, being able to distribute. She has a non-stop motor, never gets tired.”
Senior captains Maya Pflug and Gianna Cerniglia, along with senior Hannah Martiak and sophomore Lina Mullen anchor the back line. Pflug and Cerniglia have been varsity regulars while Martiak and Mullen saw some time last year.
“It’s the first time some of them are playing together, but they’re really smart back there,” Bailey said.
Junior Lillie Lazzari is the starting goalie while sophomore Molly Crilley and Junior Cecilia Sobelman are backups.
“All three of them are really solid keepers,” Bailey said. “We lost two goalies, but Lillie is a very seasoned, calm keeper. She played for a high-level club team as well. We’re confident with our goalies.”
Starting up front are seniors Giulianna Goldberg and Colleen Sullivan and junior Lily Fitzpatrick. Sullivan, who is battling some injuries, and Goldberg have varsity experience, while Fitzpatrick had three goals in the Lancers first three games.
“Lily is able to possess the ball,” Bailey said. “Kennedy will find her so she will get her opportunities.”
Sophomore Kate Lavan is another young player who got valuable minutes last season.
“We have a good mix – seven seniors, 10 juniors, eight sophomores and two freshmen,” Bailey noted. “It’s a combination of a really dedicated senior group where the majority of them get a good amount of time. They’re focused on having a successful season. And then you have the juniors with a lot of minutes last year.
“Our big thing we put on the back of our shirts is ‘Earn it.’ We earn it in practice, and we have to prove it on game day. That’s our mentality and I think it’s super beneficial for us. Our main thing is to go out and play the style of soccer we’re capable of playing. Make sure we play it with the correct energy. If we do those things we have the ability to put together a really good season.”