Postseason tournaments can make or break a season for high school soccer teams.
Whether a team had a great regular season or underachieved, all of that can be forgotten in 80 minutes (or more) of soccer in the one-and-done cruelty of tournament play.
Win a postseason championship, and a season is a success. Win a division title, and it is often forgotten about if you don’t make a deep run in the playoffs.
One team that knows the value of postseason championships is Freehold Township High School. Todd Briggs’ squad put the disappointment of not winning the Shore Conference A North Division last fall behind it when the Patriots captured the Shore Conference Tournament championship.
This time around, the Patriots look to make 2015 a memorable one. Freehold Township already has the public school championship — which Briggs noted is still an accomplishment — and looks to add to that title.
The Patriots wrapped up the A North Division public school title Oct. 21, beating Middletown High School South, 6-1, in Freehold. Adrian Barajas sparked the titleclincher with three goals. Chris Hoskins added two in the romp.
The Patriots (10-2-4) are riding high on a seven-match unbeaten streak entering the postseason with the offense clicking.
“We are getting it going at the right time, that’s for sure,” Briggs said.
Most importantly, the offense, which has struggled for balance, appears to be clicking, getting more scoring from more players.
Hoskins has led the Patriots’ attack all year. He has a team-high 14 goals. Nick Facendo and Barajas each have five. Mike Maltese is the top distributor with 10 assists. Hoskins is next with five. Led by center back Ryan Morrison, the Patriots have been as tough as ever. They have allowed more than two goals just once — a 3-2 loss to Christian Brothers Academy. Goalies Mike Christina and Josh Nastarowicz have combined for nine shutouts.
A major key to the team’s success is how often it gets to and wins 50/50 balls. The 6- foot-4 Barajas is a major reason why the Patriots control the air.
Freehold Township was awarded the No. 3 seed for the Shore Conference Tournament that is currently underway behind undefeated Shore Regional High School and Christian Brothers Academy.
Manalapan High School (8-4-2), which has had its share of tournament success under head coach John Natoli, is the No. 7 seed.
Marlboro High School (7-5-3) is in the tournament for second straight year as the 11th seed. This year’s roster is young, which bodes well for head coach Dave Santos.
Art Collier’s Colts Neck High School team has been one of the pleasant surprises of the 2015 season. The Cougars received the 19th seed.
The Freehold Regional High School District will be well represented Oct. 28 when the NJSIAA announces its pairings for the state sectional championships.
As things are now in the power points standings, Freehold Township, Manalapan, Colts Neck and Marlboro are all in, with Freehold High School hanging around.
The Patriots are currently sixth in Central Jersey Group IV, with defending champion Manalapan at seventh. Colts Neck is 10th and Marlboro is 14th.
Freehold (4-10-2) is 16th and could get in if Perth Amboy Amboy High School (8- 8-2) has a sub-.500 record at the cutoff. Wining records trump a sub-.500 record with more power points.
The sectional championships begin Nov. 2, with the finals slated for Nov. 12 at the home of the higher-seeded team.