North Jersey Girls Football: 10 Players in Greatness Debate

Ramapo’s scoring argument

Ramapo is the best-represented school, with two candidates whose numbers set a high benchmark. The report says:

• Stephanie Smith finished with 165 goals, while Ramapo posted a 94-3-2 record during her era.
• Lizzie Reed recorded 120 goals and 53 assists, alongside four sectional titles and a county crown.
• Jean Brawn scored 86 goals in three varsity seasons, including 47 as a senior.

Those figures give Ramapo a powerful case, but they also raise the central question: should the greatest player be judged primarily by production, or by how decisively she shaped winning teams?

Defensive dominance belongs in the debate

The shortlist does not treat attacking numbers as the only measure of greatness. The report says Morgan Busacca helped Northern Highlands go 91-2-2, with only six goals conceded across her final 48 matches.

Other defensive and goalkeeping cases are just as striking:

• Erin Lautermilch anchored a Glen Rock side that shared three state titles and went 78-7-7.
• Marisa Suarez recorded 45 shutouts and an 88-5 record for Immaculate Heart.
• Clare Shea combined midfield control with 80 goals and 23 assists.

These records show how much the shortlist depends on role. A centre-back or goalkeeper cannot match a striker’s goal total, but can define an era through defensive reliability and trophies.

A debate shaped by legacy

The list also includes Wendy Hartwig, Nikki Krzysik and Nickolette Driesse, whose influence extended beyond individual totals. The report says Driesse later won national titles at Penn State and Florida State, while readers are invited to nominate another overlooked standout.

The next stage is the argument over what matters most: peak numbers, sustained winning, positional influence or impact after school football. That choice will decide North Jersey’s finest.