A Dynasty in the Lakes

FALL SPORTS HAVE begun at the local high schools, and for the Mountain Lakes girls’ soccer team, the opportunity for a “four-peat” exists, along with the possibility of an unprecedented sixth consecutive state final appearance. The Lakers are coming off of a 21-3 season, where they won their third straight Group I title and fourth in five years (discounting the 2020 season when there were no state playoffs because of COVID-19). The team also won state sectional crowns in 2017 and 2021.

It is a dynasty that’s been built from within, and the 2025 team is ready to make an assault on history and try to become one of only a handful of public schools to win at least five group championships in girls’ soccer.

COACHING CONSISTENCY

The recent string of success began with the first sectional title in 2017, but the coaching consistency that started in the 2019 season helped cement the team’s status as a top contender in the state.

Prior to 2019, Mountain Lakes experienced quite a bit of turnover on the coaching staff. Current assistant coach Vito Scarola, whose daughter was on the 2017 sectional championship squad, knew the potential of the younger athletes in the program from all his years coaching the Mountain Lakes - Boonton Township - Boonton (MLBTB) travel team, and he signed on in 2019.

In 2022, Sean Maurizi became the head varsity coach at the high school, moving up from his long-time position as the Briarcliff Middle School coach, where his team won the Morris County title the year before.

Maurizi, with the help of Scarola, then led the Lakers to three straight Group I championships.

PROGRAM, COMMUNITY, AND FAMILY

The program has benefitted from a lot of talented individuals, and there have been several former Lakers who went on to play Division I soccer. However, Maurizi and Scarola are proud of the team-oriented, program-first mentality of their players over the years.

The players stay grounded, buying in to the team-first concept. “No one feels above the program,” Maurizi notes.

This may be partially due to the fact that many of these girls have been playing soccer together in the MLBTB program since second grade. They have relationships that have been developing for the better part of a decade.

Another contributing factor to the successful culture is the family vibe within the program. The coaches have a great rapport with the players, and there is a lot of team chemistry as well as a love for their school.

“It’s pretty uncanny,” Scarola says about the girls on their bus rides home from games. “They sing the alma mater up the driveway. They live and breathe Mountain Lakes together.”

This all feeds into the positive culture that leads to more winning and more kids wanting to be part of that kind of program.

OWNERSHIP AND EMPOWERMENT

A cornerstone of success for the program has been the leadership over the years, especially from within. Maurizi is extremely proud of the way his captains have led recently, and one influential factor has been the ownership the girls have had on their team. Maurizi gives his girls a voice, which changes their mentality. It creates a belief that this is their team, and they can have more influence on their own success.

“When you give them ownership, they step up and they buy in. They know they have responsibility, and it’s on them,” Scarola says. “I think that’s been the difference.”

Scarola cites empowerment as another staple of the program. “We really try to teach the girls to coach themselves, make adaptations on the field on the fly, and know that we’re allowing them that freedom,” he says. “Knowing that we have the confidence in them to do that, they rise to the occasion. They surprise us,” he says.

“We focus on the positives,” Maurizi adds. “We let them play through mistakes.”

This teaching method builds confidence, allowing for more growth and trust across the

program.

As the 2025 season continues, the Mountain Lakes girls’ soccer team will continue to work toward their goal of winning another state championship. They also hope to make it far in the ever-challenging Morris County Tournament.

“If we go deep, that means we’re playing very well,” Scarola says, citing the incredible talent and competition of the programs in Morris County.

Even if they don’t win the counties, which is a very tall order for a Group I school, Maurizi loves the tournament and believes it prepares the girls for the larger state tournaments.

The players themselves expect to compete at a high level every time they step onto the field. The current team enjoyed success while in middle school as they were watching their older sisters win at the high school. Now, the current senior class has only experienced high school seasons that have ended with state championships.

Seniors Emma McAuliffe and twin sisters Kristine and Katelyn Squeglia will lead the 2025 team as captains as they try to get back to the state final and try to do what only a few public schools have ever done: win four consecutive Group I titles.

They have confidence, and they believe that they can win. And they have a chance to cement their place among the best dynasties this state has ever seen.

Rich Luttenberger is a life-long Morris County resident. He is a teacher at Morris Knolls High School, writer, and occasional podcast cohost for the “Sobs of Saturday,” a multimedia platform focused on Virginia Tech sports.

BY RICH LUTTENBERGER