By MATT LAMB

Sports Editor

With every new season comes an opportunity for players to rebrand themselves and to make an impact on their teams for the tough journey that lies ahead; junior Brooke Weber of Howell Township said she is looking to do just that for the Howell Rebels girls varsity soccer team this season.

“This year, I would like to lead my team to a state title and the Shore Conference title,” she said. Weber is a defender for the Rebels and is looking to up her game this fall.

“Personally, I would like to further my foot skills this season,” Weber said. “I would also like to work on settling the ball out of the air and work with my teammates to try and have as many shutouts possible this season.”

Weber said she has been ready to be a benefactor on this year’s Rebels squad since last season. She attributed that to meeting Christie Rampone, a defender and captain on the U.S. Women’s national soccer team, while playing with her club team.

“A couple of days before our national tournament we got to meet [Rampone],” Weber said. “We got advice on how to play and conduct ourselves at nationals and it really made me so excited to play and give everything I had when I stepped onto the field.

Weber said this was the moment that made her ready to carry that momentum to the turf this season for the Rebels. Howell has added another goalie, two new midfielders and one new defender to their squad for this season. So far, the team is off to an 0-2 start, but is looking to rebound with back-to-back home games against Middletown North on Friday afternoon and Brick Memorial the next morning, according to Weber.