Thanks to some leadership and inspired play from their seniors, the Freehold Borough Colonials’ girls soccer team is ahead of schedule.
Heshy Moses’ young Colonial soccer team enters this week on a five-game unbeaten streak. After opening the season with a 3-0 loss at Wall, the Colonials have gone 4-0-1.
Included in the streak was a 1-1 tie in the final of the Neptune Classic with Brick Memorial, the defending Group IV state champion.
Freehold’s quick emergence as a formidable team has even surprised Moses.
"There are two things that have surprised me," said the veteran coach. "One, we’re scoring goals, and second, our freshmen are playing better than I expected, especially Meghan Phillips at midfield, and our seniors have won starting positions."
Moses thought that he’d be starting no more than two seniors this fall, but rather than accept coming off the bench, the veterans have raised their level of play, earning starting positions over some talented underclassmen, and turned the Colonials into one of the Shore Conference’s best teams.
"The competition has made people better," noted Moses. "The girls know if they don’t play well there’s someone who can take their place. The competition has been good for everyone."
Laura Hughes, Erin Turner-Byfield, Kelaine Conochan and Jessica Shafai are the seniors who not only solidified themselves as starters, but are providing leadership to the younger players, according to Moses.
In Hughes, Conochan and Shafai, and junior returner Jackie Meder, the Colonials have four experienced backs in front of freshman goalie Jen Towers. Conochan is the stopper back and Meder the sweeper.
Turner-Byfield has been a catalyst for the Colonials’ surprising offensive output.
"Erin has really grown up and matured as a player," explained Moses. "She’s always had great speed, but she’s a tougher player this year."
Turner-Byfield has blended well with the likes of sophomores Brienne Campbell, Sarah Van Curen, Kristie Buble and junior Holly Rackett to give the Colonials a high-scoring team. In a 6-0 win over Holmdel last Thursday, five different players scored goals. It’s that kind of balance that is making Moses a very happy coach on the sidelines.
"We have very good team chemistry," he pointed out. "I can use two different forward lines. I don’t lose anything by who I put in the game and all my forwards have speed."
One of the highlights of the unbeaten streak was the 1-1 tie with Brick Memorial in the Neptune Classic final. Last year, the Mustangs had lit up the young Colonials 10-0, showing them no mercy. Freehold’s youngsters didn’t forget it.
"Brick Memorial was a great experience for them after last year," Moses noted. "They were very psyched. They remembered last year. We didn’t come away with a win, but we proved something. I think Brick Memorial was surprised that we were staying with them."
Turner-Byfield slammed home the game-tying goal for the Colonials in that tilt.
In that game with the Mustangs and others throughout the season, a trademark of the Colonials has been the way that they battle for 80 minutes. Senior leadership has been very important here.
"They don’t give up and that says a lot for a young team," Moses said. "They come to play."
Two home games early this week will go a long way toward determining just how far the young Colonials have developed. On Monday they hosted Wall (5-1) in a rematch, and on Tuesday No. 1-ranked Red Bank Catholic (5-0) will make a call. Both games are A Central Division matches.

