Freehold Township High School’s Amanda Whittaker, left, tries to sprint past Howell High School’s Gabby Boller during their game on May 2 in Freehold Township. The Patriots won the Shore Conference A North Division battle, 12-9. I n seeking an eighth consecutive Shore Conference A North Division championship, the Freehold Township High School girls lacrosse team finds itself doing the chasing this time.
A 10-9 loss to Wall High School last month put the Patriots a game behind the Crimson Knights. On May 8, they hope to even the score in Wall and clinch no worse than a tie for the championship.
Head coach Brian Snedden believes that in the long run, the loss to Wall may have been the best thing for his club. Ever since that one-goal loss, the Patriots have been a different team. They have been refocused on playing like a team with something to prove.
“I told them after the [loss to Wall] to remember how it feels,” Snedden said. “It should make you hungrier for the rest of the season.”
The Patriots listened to their coach and have been playing with a sense of urgency ever since. Three days after the loss to Wall, they played a dangerous Colts Neck High School team led by the Shore’s leading goal-scorer, Erika Keselman, and the Patriots played their “best game of the year. All the girls contributed,” according to Snedden. Freehold Township rolled to a 19-9 win on April 26, which kept it a game behind Wall.
With few exceptions, the Patriots (11-3) have been on their game all season. They have been deliberate, controlling the ball and patiently running their plays. They have relied on the players being in constant motion, moving without the ball to keep defenses on the run. Midfielders Dominique Anselmin, Victoria Camassa and Brienne O’Donoghue make it all work. They are productive and get everyone involved.
Anselmin is among the Shore’s top scorers with 48 goals and 10 assists, good for 58 points. She is the team’s best open field threat.
“Dominique can take it from one end to the other,” Snedden said. “She’s a great shooter.”
Anselmin deposited six goals in the win again Colts Neck.
Camassa is the team’s top playmaker with a team-high of 24 assists.
“Victoria sees the field so well and finds the open girl,” Snedden said.
Camassa also knows how to find the back of the net. She’s scored 26 goals, including five against Colts Neck.
O’Donoghue has 24 goals, and she has assisted on 10 others.
Up front, attack Ashley Hobbs has had some big scoring games for the Patriots, as have Nicole Sasso and Jamie Weintraub.
If controlling the ball is a key to the game, then playing good defense is essential. The Patriots have a lot of experience in the back with seniors Cara O’Brien, Gianna Santaniello and Amanda Scarpa. Freehold Township has held teams under 10 goals in nine of their 14 games.
Shaye Zyskowski has been dependable all season in goal.
Before the rematch with Wall, the Patriots had to get through a tough Manalapan High School team on the road on May 5. The Braves are one of the teams to score 10 goals on the Patriots this year in their 14-10 loss in Freehold Township.
The Braves (8-5) have a 41-goal scorer in Cassidy McBride.