Post by Trojan Warrior on Feb 13, 2014 5:36:14 GMT -6
BY NELSON DEPASQUALE
NUTLEY SUN
One of Nutley soccer’s best offensive players will be continuing her career at a division 1 college. Senior forward Natalie Melillo, who spent four years as a varsity starter and was one of the key components of an 18-2-1 overall record last season, will be continuing her soccer career at Troy University.
The 2013 season was the best season the program ever had, and that is due in part to Melillo’s dynamic play up front. After a junior season in which she led all of Essex County in scoring, Melillo showed adaptability in her senior campaign when she led the Raiders with 25 assists (she also found the back of the net another 22 times). This, combined with the rest of the offense and Nutley’s stalwart defense, led to program’s best season ever.
Melillo recorded 53 career goals and 47 assists for the Raiders. Her accolades include being named to the 1st Team All-Super Essex Conference (2012, 2013), 2nd Team All-Essex County (2012, 2013), 2nd Team All-State Group 3 (2012) and 3rd Team All-State Group 3 (2013).
But these stats are just a fraction of what she has accomplished on the field in the last four years. When the high school season ends, Melillo plays for TSF Academy (2011-present) and was even selected for the Super Y National ODP (Olympic Developmental Program). In her younger years, she played for Nutley United and Pacso/NJ Stallions.
Despite her individual accolades, Melillo points to how far Nutley got in the state tournament as a career highlight.
"I think how far we made it in the states," said Natalie Melillo. "That was probably the biggest accomplishment. Granted, we did lose and didn’t make it into the finals, but I can take that anger with me to college and try to finish what I still haven’t finished yet."
"She lives the sport," said Nutley girls soccer head coach Mike DiPiano. "Not many athletes these days do that. She plays all year long with her club team, TSF, and luckily we got her for three months out of the year. She loves it, you can’t take that away. When you have the passion to play at a high level you will get the chance to play everyday."
Even though the stats she puts up stand on it’s own as an accomplishment, one who has seen the Nutley girls soccer team play during the last four years will know that Melillo brings not only her skills to the table, but her passion. No matter the situation, Melillo always brought a competitive, fiery, ‘do-what-it-takes-to-win’ approach with her on the field.
And she’ll need that in Alabama this fall. The one thing that recruiters may have scored against Melillo is her size. Standing at five feet even, Melillo is the shortest Troy University recruit this season (by a full five inches). The average height of Troy recruit this season is about five feet, eight inches.
"Down in college, I’m going to playing with a lot of different people," said Melillo. "I’m going to be playing girls that are 10 times bigger than me, 10 times faster than me. They’re going to be much older than me, too. Here, a freshman versus a senior isn’t that big of a difference, but at college it’s a huge range."
(Full Article)
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NUTLEY SUN
One of Nutley soccer’s best offensive players will be continuing her career at a division 1 college. Senior forward Natalie Melillo, who spent four years as a varsity starter and was one of the key components of an 18-2-1 overall record last season, will be continuing her soccer career at Troy University.
The 2013 season was the best season the program ever had, and that is due in part to Melillo’s dynamic play up front. After a junior season in which she led all of Essex County in scoring, Melillo showed adaptability in her senior campaign when she led the Raiders with 25 assists (she also found the back of the net another 22 times). This, combined with the rest of the offense and Nutley’s stalwart defense, led to program’s best season ever.
Melillo recorded 53 career goals and 47 assists for the Raiders. Her accolades include being named to the 1st Team All-Super Essex Conference (2012, 2013), 2nd Team All-Essex County (2012, 2013), 2nd Team All-State Group 3 (2012) and 3rd Team All-State Group 3 (2013).
But these stats are just a fraction of what she has accomplished on the field in the last four years. When the high school season ends, Melillo plays for TSF Academy (2011-present) and was even selected for the Super Y National ODP (Olympic Developmental Program). In her younger years, she played for Nutley United and Pacso/NJ Stallions.
Despite her individual accolades, Melillo points to how far Nutley got in the state tournament as a career highlight.
"I think how far we made it in the states," said Natalie Melillo. "That was probably the biggest accomplishment. Granted, we did lose and didn’t make it into the finals, but I can take that anger with me to college and try to finish what I still haven’t finished yet."
"She lives the sport," said Nutley girls soccer head coach Mike DiPiano. "Not many athletes these days do that. She plays all year long with her club team, TSF, and luckily we got her for three months out of the year. She loves it, you can’t take that away. When you have the passion to play at a high level you will get the chance to play everyday."
Even though the stats she puts up stand on it’s own as an accomplishment, one who has seen the Nutley girls soccer team play during the last four years will know that Melillo brings not only her skills to the table, but her passion. No matter the situation, Melillo always brought a competitive, fiery, ‘do-what-it-takes-to-win’ approach with her on the field.
And she’ll need that in Alabama this fall. The one thing that recruiters may have scored against Melillo is her size. Standing at five feet even, Melillo is the shortest Troy University recruit this season (by a full five inches). The average height of Troy recruit this season is about five feet, eight inches.
"Down in college, I’m going to playing with a lot of different people," said Melillo. "I’m going to be playing girls that are 10 times bigger than me, 10 times faster than me. They’re going to be much older than me, too. Here, a freshman versus a senior isn’t that big of a difference, but at college it’s a huge range."
(Full Article)
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