GIRLS SOCCER
By: Tim Falls
Kim Fearnbach would have needed superpowers to stop the shot that won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Final.
Hopewell Valley Central High School’s junior goalie dove to her right after a sudden shot in overtime, but the ball arced away from her and into the net for the golden goal as top-seeded Freehold Boro defeated Hopewell, 1-0 in the sectional final.
"There was nothing I could do," said Fearnbach. "Maybe, if I was superwoman, I could have stopped it."
The game-winner came with seven minutes left in the first period of overtime when Freehold Boro’s Shannon Mayrose ripped a shot from over 25-yards out on a quick give-and-go.
Mayrose’s goal even earned admiration from the Bulldogs, who described it as beautiful and perfectly placed.
Fearnbach may have needed the ability to fly to stop the golden goal in overtime, but the junior goalie did defy gravity a little late in the second half as she tipped another blast by Mayrose over the crossbar to force overtime.
"Kim was incredible," said Hopewell senior Sam Germano. "Kim’s always incredible."
Fearnbach recorded five saves for Hopewell, which led the top-seed in shots, 10-7.
The Bulldogs generated a lot of offense against Freehold Boro and controlled much of the play.
"We had some opportunities to score and we didn’t," said Hopewell coach John McGinley. "I thought we were going to get one. We put so much pressure on them, I really thought we’d get one in overtime."
Leah Kulp had the Hopewell’s best opportunity in the second half with a close-in shot soaring over the crossbar.
With all the offense Hopewell had, it seemed like the Bulldogs were ready to upset the top-seed. Hopewell had its share of upsets this season. The third-seeded Bulldogs upset second-seeded Wall, 2-0, in the sectional semifinal, and had edged Pennington, a higher-seed, in the Mercer County Tournament. Unfortunately for Hopewell, the top seed in both tournaments, Freehold Boro and Steinert, prevailed in the finals.
"We gave everything we had," said Germano, "and that’s something we can be proud of when we walk off the field."
As much Hopewell’s offense tried, a physical and aggressive Freehold Boro defense managed to record its 18th shutout of the season as the Colonials improved to 20-1.
"It was a really physical game," said Germano. "It’s always physical against the physical against the Shore Conference teams and it’s always physical in states."
Germano had to play an extremely physical game as she contested with Freehold Boro’s Mayrose through most of the game.
Mayrose barreled through Germano just outside the penalty box in the first half in a hit more fitting for a football field. Despite objections from Hopewell’s coaches and fans crying for a penalty, play continued setting the tone for more physical confrontations.
It got a little more violent in the second half, when Mayrose punched at Germano as the two got up after the Hopewell senior slide-tackled the ball and brought down the Freehold Boro sophomore. Again, that flagrant foul went unpunished, though the official did take a moment to talk to both players.
With the way the two teams were playing it looked like a penalty kick would decide the game. Whether that penalty kick came in a shootout after the two teams played to a scoreless tie or if it came as a result of a foul was hard to tell.
"It was a very physical game," said McGinley. "I would have liked a penalty kick. I though we should have had a few."
Hopewell didn’t shy away from the contact. The Bulldog’s defense of Margi Emhof, Arrielle Wolfe and Gina Colati played aggressively throughout the game, while players like Rosie Rarich and Ali Newman won many 50-50 balls at midfield.
While Freehold Boro won out in the end, and Hopewell had an emotional moment after game, the Bulldogs were able to take pride in a very successful season.
"I think we played really hard," said Germano. "We’re a family. This has been my favorite year of high school because all these girls are amazing."

