Toms River South at #4 Brick Memorial

Under the lights with A South title on the line Toms River South was able to defeat Brick Memorial 1-0 behind a remarkable performance by senior goalie Delaine Wilkinson.  She was tested for about 60 out of the 80 minutes and she did not break, along with the Tribes defense.  Now, as long as TRS does not lose to Toms River East, they will be declared A South winners. 

"It was really nice to get this win," TRS coach Kacey Woram said. "These girls have worked very hard  since August. They do it for each other out there. This was a big statement win"

Toms River South was able to strike early, ten minutes into the match when sophomore Keira Mulvhill ripped a shot from 25 yards out into an empty net.  Brick Memorial goalie came out to make a play moments before, but the ball got free and the defense could not clear the ball and it led to an open Mulvhill. 

After TRS scored, Brick Memorial stepped up their play, dominating almost the full 70 minutes remaining.  Almost each shot by Brick Memorial, 23 shots in total and 12 on goal, was met by a brick wall named Wilkinson. 

"She does not get a lot of credit," Woram said about Wilkinson. "She steps up in every big game and is as solid as they come in that net and as long as we have her in there, she is going to give us a shot to win."

The Mustangs had several great chances to score, but two of the best chances came within four minutes of each other. During the 63rd minute, junior Gabby Hernandez found senior Makenzie Fanning, but Wilkinson came off the line to make the same.  Four minutes later Brick Memorial was awarded a penalty shot, but junior Lexi Caruso missed wide right. Even though it went wide, Wilkinson guessed the correct side and most likely would have made the save.

A big surprise in the game was senior Abbey Olexa, who came off the bench to play the final 20 minutes of each half. Olexa, (who I picked as possible POY) has been recovering from ACL surgery and they are bringing her back slowly since being cleared to play. She helped anchor and control the back line to keep the shutout in tack.

"This is the best feeling I can have from being out last season with Covid and ACL and now I am back and we win, I could not ask for a better feeling than that," Olexa said. "This team has the best chemistry I have ever been on so we need to keep working as a team going forward."

Player of the Game : Delaine Wilkinson - No surprise. This was one of the top two performances I have seen in the last 4 years in goal by a goalie. That's all that needs to be said.

"Where the ball goes I go," a modest Wilkinson said, more focused on giving her defense the credit they deserved. "They held the game together in front of me. I love watching them play. This game gives  us a huge boost of confidence."