When the Middletown South girls soccer team faced up with Cranford in Saturday’s Group III final at the College of New Jersey, Coach Kris Haar knew that her team would have to raise its play to the next level to compete with the 22-0 Cougars, who were ranked sixth in the nation in the National High School Soccer Coaches of America Poll. And the Eagles did not disappoint.
The girls from South played what can only be described as inspired soccer as they tied Cranford 0-0 to earn the school’s first ever state Group III title.
"My girls played their best game of the season," Haar said. "We had to play a physical game and to challenge for every loose ball. The girls did everything right."
The coach noted that last year’s trip to the Group III final, where the Eagles dropped a 2-0 decision to Ramapo, contributed to this season’s success.
Besides the general experience, South knew what to expect on the College of New Jersey’s fast artificial turf surface.
South played without midfielder Kristen Bloom and fullback Emma Richdale, both seniors. Bloom is out with a fractured fibula, while Bloom suffered a concussion in the Eagles’ 2-0 victory over Ocean City in the semifinals. As a result, Nicole Beaumont and Courtney Bongiolatti played the full 100 minutes, turning in fine all-around efforts.
Beaumont made an important clear to end a Cranford flurry, and goalie Kristen Hirt was superb throughout, thwarting two first-half breakaways. In addition, Michelle Malejki came up big, heading a shot on the line to prevent a goal. And, as usual, co-captain Maureen McLaughlin turned in a sterling defensive effort.
"It was a total team effort. Everyone had to play well and they did," Haar said. "I’m very proud of them. This is the best group of girls I’ve coached. They did everything they could and they really came up big."
Lauren Krzan and Tara Froehlich both had good scoring chances for the Eagles in the second half. Krzan beat Cranford goalie Katie Donnelly to a loose ball, but had to hurry her shot and it went just wide. Froehlich’s shot off a restart handcuffed Donnelly, who deflected it off the crossbar and out of play.
The Cranford game culminated a successful campaign that resulted in the Eagles second Central Jersey Group III title in a row, and their third in four seasons. Overall, Middletown South went 21-3-1.
In CJ Group III play, the Eagles defeated Ocean and Wall before meeting Lawrence in the finals. Middletown South rolled to a 3-0 triumph as Lindsay Jarusiewicz, Bongiolatti and Beaumont scored, while Froehlich contributed a pair of assists.
Froehlich is the team’s career scoring leader with 66 goals and 64 assists. This season she has 16 goals and a single season team record 22 assists.
Next South upended Ocean City, capitalizing on two first-half opportunities, on headers by freshman Tanya DiDonna and McLaughlin, both assisted by Kendall Krzan, another freshman, to set up the meeting with Cranford.
Haar was especially pleased for her 12 seniors.
"They deserved this," the coach said. "They’ve taught our younger players how to win and how to have fun at the same time. They’ve set the tone."