By Rich Fisher, Sports Editor
Olivia Johnston closed a chapter on her life last week.
One she will like to re-read again and again, although that might be tough to do on the run.
The Cranbury resident played her final high school soccer game last Thursday when Freehold Boro defeated Princeton, 1-0, in a Central Jersey Group III quarterfinal game.
That ended a sparkling career for Johnston, who started as a forward and gradually moved back to defense, helping the Little Tigers in any way possible. She was a valuable member for PHS ever since her freshman year.
And while it was difficult to let go of the sport she loves, Johnston did it with a smile on her face.
”This was my ideal senior year,” she said. “Going 10-5 was definitely something you would want to have in your last year. And the relationship between all the girls was something special.
”I’d describe it as a the perfect team. There was never really a dull moment and I could only really describe it as the perfect team.”
It just was not the perfect ending, as Freehold Boro continued its dominance of the Colonial Valley Conference with its win over PHS (followed by a win over Hopewell).
”Losing to them was probably the worst loss just because it was probably the last soccer game of my life,” Johnston said. “ I’m going to college next year for track. I guess I’m basically now a track athlete. So it was upsetting to lose in that way.”
But, it’s the proverbial door closes-window opens scenario, as Johnston will now train in full vigor for a track and field career in college. Johnston said she is “probably going to Roanoke,” a Division III school in Virginia.
First there is the upcoming winter and spring track seasons at PHS, which will have a bit more meaning for the sprinter/hurdler.
”I’m basically getting ready for winter track,” she said. “I took a week off after soccer and now I’ll start doing some running.
”I’m going to do a lot of lifting, basically for winter and spring track. I’ll probably take it more serious and more intensely than in past years. Then in the summer I’ll train for college.”
After thinking about it for a minute, Johnston added “Actually, I guess the training for college starts now.”
As do the memories of high school soccer.
”I definitely couldn’t have asked,” she said, “for a better four years.”
The Princeton program could say the same about the contributions it got from Johnston.
