Jennifer Albuja was born to be a soccer player. After all, her father, Fausto, was a player in his native Ecuador and became a coach in Hoboken several years ago. Her two older brothers, Fausto and Patrick, both played varsity soccer at Hoboken High School. The sport was in her blood. It was natural that she would play.
"My father taught me how to play when I was five years old," Albuja said. "I wanted to learn because he played with my brothers."
There was only one obstacle. There were very few opportunities for Jennifer to play against girls her own age. Check that, playing against girls – period.
Other than one All-Star team (coached by her father) that she played for when she was 12 years old, Jennifer Albuja’s soccer experience was strictly playing with and against the boys in the Hoboken Recreation program.
"I learned a lot from playing with the boys," Albuja said. "I was always with the boys, but it was okay that I was the only girl there. I felt I was better than most of them anyway. But I knew that I would be really ready when I got to high school."
Albuja enrolled at Hoboken High School last month, knowing full well that she was finally going to get a chance to play with and against her own gender for basically the first time.
"I was ready right away to play," Albuja said. "I knew I could play."
So did Hoboken girls’ soccer coach Michael Ben-David, who had seen Albuja play several times while she was in grade school.
"I had her on the radar screen for quite some time," said Ben-David, who has been the girls’ soccer coach at Hoboken for the last two years, but has been working with the school’s soccer program for the last five years. "I worked with Patrick and Fausto, so I knew that Jennifer could play. I knew that she was going to make an impact. It was just a question of how much of an impact."
When practices first began, Ben-David put Albuja on the back line, trying to solidify the Red Wings’ defense.
"I generally like to build from the back up," Ben-David said. "I want to strengthen the defense first. I put Jennifer back there to start the season."
"I’m normally a forward," Albuja said. "I was a little upset when I was put in the back, but I was willing to do whatever I could to help the team. I could be good as a stopper and help the defense."
But after two games, Ben-David decided that Albuja was much better off as a forward. The shift turned out to have prime dividends, because the freshman has been on fire ever since.
In the last five games since the switch, Albuja has scored nine goals and added seven assists, including a three-goal performance against Holy Family Academy, two goals against three-time defending HCIAA champion St. Dominic Academy and three goals against Ferris.
For her efforts, Albuja has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Ben-David said that he is really not surprised with Albuja’s scoring explosion.
"She has a great first step and the instincts of someone who has played the game a very long time," Ben-David said. "She’s stepped up against the best teams we faced. It can’t be easy in a new environment with new teammates, but she’s been impressive. It’s impressive that she’s a freshman. It’s like a freshman running back getting 225 yards a game on the varsity."
Added Ben-David, "But it’s really not a big surprise. She has that ability. She’s not playing over her ability. She has been playing to her level. She’s not overachieving. I expected great things from her. It was just a question of whether she could put the numbers on the board."
However, Albuja is somewhat shocked with her offensive prowess.
"I didn’t expect this," Albuja said. "I’m a little surprised with how well I’ve done. It was a little difficult to play at first, because I didn’t know if I would get the ball a lot. But now, I’m being more aggressive. I just hope I can keep it up."
Ben-David is convinced that Albuja’s best soccer is still ahead of her. After all, she’s still just a freshman, but she’s playing like an accomplished senior. Who knows what the future holds?
"I think she would be a starter on any team in New Jersey," Ben-David said. "She’s that talented. She’s a great team player and wants to distribute the ball more. I almost have to tell her to shoot, because we need her to score."
Ben-David said that Albuja is also a pleasure to coach.
"She’s quiet, respectful and is willing to learn," Ben-David said. "She’s so easy to coach because she works so hard. She is someone who will only get better over the next three years and she can definitely play at the (NCAA) Division I level."
College is a dream for Albuja, but that’s far down the road. After all, she’s just a freshman. She has three years left to help the Red Wings and terrorize opponents – as a forward. She’s cemented in that center forward role now.
"I’m more comfortable there," Albuja said. "It’s better being a forward. There could be a change later on, but for now, I’m a forward. I think I can keep this up if I stay at forward."
Scoring nine goals a week? Now, those would be scary numbers, even for a freshman. – Jim Hague