Soccer Games

 In a rematch of what may have been the game of the year last season, Freehold Township was able to defeat Rancocas Valley for the second season in a row 2-0 to advance to the CJG4 finals. Unlike last year where the Patriots were trailing late in the game and were able to tie it and win in overtime, they were able to take the lead in the opening minutes and did not look back. Freehold Township was able to score two minutes in when RV had a hand ball in the box and senior captain Kayla Wong buried the penalty shot to put Freehold on the board. Credit the ref, who took a minute to make sure it was the right call in such a big game. The Patriots then added a second goal around the 35th minute when sophomore Sophie Tonino was able to score from junior Ainsley Moy corner kick. Last year the Patriots were in the same position, up 2-0 at halftime, but RV was able to score three unanswered. This season the Freehold Township defense was ready for RV to attempt another comeback and was able ...

  Jackson Liberty waited almost a full year to get back to this point, losing last season to RBR in the first round of the CJG3 playoff game. Played at the same field it was played at a year ago, the Lions got the result they wanted this season, defeating the Bucs 2-0 to move on to face #1 seed Steinart tomorrow.  Jackson Liberty gave a complete team effort to advance, solid defense, great passing in the midfield, forwards attacking and great goalkeeping like we have come to expect from senior Camryn Wiese. "It definitely feels good and it was a good game to play going into Saturday,” Liberty coach Dana Young said. “At times we did not battle the way we should have and hats off to them (RBR) they played their hardest the entire game, but we found a way to score and our goalie and defense stepped up.” The Lions had a couple good chances early in the game that started with great passing by seniors Alyssa Galayda and Seanna Boan, but Red Bank Regional freshman goalkeeper Harper B...

 Great players step up in the biggest of situations and that is exactly what junior Vanessa Sarf did in the second round of the SCT against Lacey. Sarf scored four goals in a 5-2 victory for Manalapan to advance to the quarterfinals.  Manalapan got on the board first seven minutes into the game when freshman Daniella Butash scored off a pass from junior Kasey Resker. Butash just missed a blast a couple minutes early wide right.  Sarf was able to put Manalapan up 2-0 four minutes later when she scored on a rebound off a blast from freshman Nicole Savage that hit the post.  "One of our goals all season was to come out strong and take it to the team right from the start and not be on the defense for the first 15/20 minutes," Manalapan coach John Rogers said. "We came out strong and took it to them and the girls were really clicking today." Lacey was able to respond right back with a goal by sophomore Natalie McGovern scored off a pass from senior Beth Stephens. Manalap...

In the biggest upset of the tournament, #13 Manasquan earned their biggest win in over a decade by defeating #4 Middletown South 2-1 in overtime to move on to the quarterfinals of the SCT. Some teams might have packed it in if they give up a goal 50 seconds into the game, but the Warriors responded by playing better defense and was able to attack the Middletown South defense for several minutes at a time. The Eagles scored when freshman Bea Tinoco scored after receiving a touch pass from senior Abby Doherty. "I was really proud of how they were able to hang on after being down a goal so early on," Manasquan coach Bailey Price said. "I feel this is the most we have been challenged so far and these have been the toughest opponents we have played." It would take another 74 minutes to see the next goal, when senior Meghan Stehle sent a cross into the box and junior Renee Herbert got her foot on it to tie the game with five minutes left. That goal came after Middletown S...

 -A matchup that we deserved to see in the quarterfinals or even the semifinals, #19 Lacey and #14 Central Regional met in round 1 last night and it was everything as expected. Two good teams, one who controlled the offense and another who could do no wrong on defense and got excellent goal keeping.  Lacey was able to battle to a 1-0 victory with some of the best defensive play I have seen all season and a remarkable performance by freshman goalie Ava Schmidt.  Schmidt, who started the season as a back up to junior Lorynn Leporino when she went down early in the season to an ankle injury, stepped up in the biggest game of the season and played like a seasoned upperclassman.  "She has just stepped in and owned the field, you can not tell she is a freshman," Lacey coach Jack Mahar said about Schmidt. "No one would know that if they came to watch her that she is stepping in for our starting goalie." Schmidt made a couple of amazing saves, but no bigger one when Central...

-The SCT opening round started yesterday and unlike in the last few years the Mariners did not have a bye, but they were able to show they can still be the team they have been. They scored four unanswered goals to win 4-1 and advance to round 2. Colts Neck was able to strike first 16 minutes into the game when freshman Isa Suarez, who played in her very first varsity game, was able to score off an assist from sophomore Terri Morgan.  The Cougars were able to apply pressure for a good amount of the first half, but with eight minutes left Toms River North picked up the pace.  TRN was able to get the equalizer with five minutes left in the half when junior Alexis Garcia finished a Madison DiEugenio shot that hit the crossbar. The senior DiEugenio was ripping good shots all first half but they either hit the goal posts or junior goalie Mia Nikolic, who was solid like always, made the save. The Mariners were able to take the lead with 20 seconds left in the half when junior Kaylee ...