Jackson Liberty at #9 Colts Neck

 In a tough non divisional battle, #9 Colts Neck (2-2) hands Jackson Liberty (4-1) their first defeat 4-2 in a back and forth game. Rebounding after a tough loss to Matawan on Wednesday, the Cougars came out aggressive and looked to strike fast against Liberty. 

Colts Neck scored 8 minutes in when senior Carys Gardiner stole the ball from a Liberty defender and crossed the ball to sophomore Olivia Gehman who put the ball in the back of the net. On the play Lions goalie, senior Camryn Wiese, was injured when she dove for the ball, and was unable to return to action. 

The Cougars scored their second goal at the 36th minute when sophomore Terri Morgan made the pass to junior Nikki Cataneo and beat Liberty back up goalie, sophomore Peyton Blasi, on the right side.  Morgan and the Cougars were very effective getting the ball wide and down the field for majority of the game.

"Our outside backs, especially Anna Casler, did a great job playing the ball up," Gardiner said. "She knows if I am going to make the run to play the ball up."

The Lions were able to get one of the goals back with 2 minutes left in the half when sophomore Delaney Splathoff made a cross that senior Seanna Boan was able to put home after the initial shot was blocked. 

Jackson Liberty played hard after losing Wiese and Blasi came up with some key stops to keep the Lions in the game going into half, but Colts Neck was able to strike fast into the second half.  Three minutes in, Gehman was able to return the favor to Gardiner on a cross to give the Cougars a 3-1 lead. 

The Lions did not give up and put the pressure on Colts Neck midway through the second half.  Junior Chelsea Lavezzo put in a goal in the 64th minute off Boan's pass in the middle of the field.  Two minutes later Liberty had a chance to tie it when Colts Neck goalie, junior Mia Nikolic, came out of the net to make a play on the ball, but the Lions could not take advantage and Colts Neck defense recovered and cleared the ball out. 

"Kylie Jacoutot can match their speed foot for foot but the fact they are as fast as her with the ball at their feet puts us in a tough spot," Colts Neck coach Kevin Hein said of Jackson Liberty's Alyssa Galayda and Lavezzo. "We kept switching what side she was depending where Chelsea was and then Anna Casler is a stud and I was able to split them apart and keep an eye on both of them."

Jackson Liberty kept the pressure on and had a chance to tie it with around ten minutes left when Boan found Lavezzo again, but Nikolic was able to come up with the save.

Colts Neck was able to seal the game when Gardiner scored her second goal with less than seven minutes to play off a pass from junior Valentina Sepulveda to make it 4-2.

"We have been working a lot on movement and off the ball and today I think we did a really good job except when they (Liberty) took possession there for 10-15 minutes," Hein said. "All four games we have been getting better at making the easy pass at the right time. That's basic soccer, putting the ball in the empty space."

My player of the game Carys Gardiner with 2 goals and 1 assist today.  

"We were looking to get her back to her natural position of striker," Coach Hein said. "Carys is more comfortable being the creative force in the middle of the field as opposed to running onto the ball. She is great finishing in tight spaces and it was great seeing her get a couple in the back of the net."

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