Freehold Township High School goalie Brian Shushkovsky catches a shot as Manalapan’s Ryan Hammer looks for a rebound during the Oct. 10 A North Division match played in Freehold Township. The two Shore area powers played to a scoreless draw. For the Braves, the 0-0 tie moved them one step closer to a second straight division crown. FRANK GALIPO Staff Writer his is the time of the season that coaches want their teams playing their best. With the Shore Conference and state sectional tournaments on the horizon, they want their teams to bring momentum into these one-and-done formats.
Dave Patterson, head coach of the Freehold Township High School girls soccer team, has a team that worked out its early season problems and would seem poised to be a serious contender in both tournaments.
“Right now we are just trying to do as much as we can in the regular season to put us in a position to get a strong seed in both tournaments, and then we’ll see what we can do once we get there,” he said. “We know there are a lot of strong teams both in the conference and the state bracket, but we feel that if we are playing well, we can compete for championships in both.”
First things first for the Patriots, however. The defending champions are still very much alive in the A North Division race. They are scheduled to play today, Oct. 15, at home against Freehold in a game that will likely decide the division title.
The Colonials hold a half-game lead over the Pats. Freehold is 8-0-1 in division play (10-1-1 overall) and Township is 8-1 (10-2 overall).
Freehold won the first meeting between the two powerhouses back on Sept. 12, 3-2, in overtime. Another game just as close can be expected in Freehold Township.
Since that first meeting a month ago, Freehold Township is doing a far better job at controlling possession of the ball. That has been a Patriot mainstay, which Patterson noted early in the season was missing. They weren’t controlling the ball, which would allow them to take advantage of their team speed and talent.
“Once we realized this, however, we made it our point of emphasis, and since it has become a strength for us,” Patterson said.
The Pats had a stretch of seven consecutive shutouts.
“Obviously, in order for that to happen, we needed to have a consistent effort in the back,” Patterson noted.
Defenders Sam Lotti, Caleigh Farrell, Jada Colbert and Meaghan Lana have been a fortress in front of keeper Ang DiCicco.
The defensive effort doesn’t end in the back.
“Regardless of the position, the girls all know that if we don’t have the ball, our job is to go get it as a team,” Patterson said. “We have found success pressuring our opponents in their defensive third, and have also done a strong job in the middle of the field and in our defensive third.”
It’s the defensive mindset that has been the key to Township controlling the ball.
Nicole Whitley has been the team’s goto scorer. A proven finisher, she has a teambest 15 goals to go along with six assists.
However, what makes the Pats so dangerous is how balanced their attack has been. Whitley has had plenty of support. Township has had nine different goal-scorers (Nicole Sasso with four goals is second and Lacey Powell is next with three). Including assists, 13 players have taken part in the scoring.
Maria D’Amico and Sasso are second on the team in assists to Rutgers-bound Whitley, with five each.
Outstanding leadership from the team’s captains — D’Amico (committed to Wagner), Lotti (committed to Towson), Whitley and Olivia Pinto — has been very important, according to Patterson. So, too, has been the play of three freshmen who have stepped in and given the team a real boost. Colbert and Latona have solidified the back line and Jada’s twin sister, Jasmine Colbert, has been a “very positive surprise” on the attack.
The one constant the Pats have had this year, said the coach, has been the “great effort” they give every day, be it during practice or a game.