MANALAPAN – Last year’s state final still remains fresh in the minds of the Freehold Township girls soccer team. How could it not?
The Patriots were prepared to take Westfield into overtime of the Group 4 final last November with the game still scoreless late in the game. But that all changed with eight seconds left when Alyssa Martinez cracked a shot that just barely crossed the goal line to lead the Blue Devils to their first state title since 1988.
The Patriots – a juggernaut last year – were left stunned.
They also took another major blow in the spring when reigning Shore Conference Player of the Year Cassidy Corcione tore her ACL. She is out for the season.
But even with their top player injured on the sidelines, the Patriots haven’t taken their eyes off their eventual goal of getting back to the state final and winning this time around. A 4-0 shutout of Manalapan on Tuesday afternoon was yet another step on that journey.
“Every single day we’re reminded of what happened,” Freehold Township sophomore Gaby Parker said. “We just want it badly, more than ever. We just want to get to that point again.”
Replacing Corcione
The first step on that quest was replacing Corcione, an impossible task. What Freehold Township (5-1) did have in its advantage was a slew of talented players returning from last year’s team.
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Parker and junior Hailey Santiago returned to the top and combined for 28 goals and 14 assists. Midfielders Ainsley Moy and Kayla Wong – a Princeton commit – ensure that no opposing players gain possession of the ball and leave their fingerprints all over goal scoring plays. Villanova commit Gabby Koluch solidifies a strong back line that’s only conceded three goals through six games this year.
“You don’t replace someone like Cassidy Corcione,” Freehold Township head coach Dave Patterson said. “All the other girls knew they had to step up their level.
“For the most part, they’ve done that.”
And that new level was on display on Tuesday.
After a scoreless first half, Santiago immediately got the Patriots on the board one minute into the second half by converting a penalty kick. Three minutes later, Parker poked a rebound from a Moy shot through the goal.
Parker returned the favor and assisted Moy on Freehold Township’s third goal of the game. The most impressive goal was the last one late in the game, a screeching 40-yard strike off the feet of Koluch.
Santiago shining
It’s difficult to separate yourself on a team that’s so loaded with talent, but that’s what Santiago is doing this fall. Her penalty kick was already her team-high sixth goal of the season as she does her best to replace the production of Corcione.
“I just want to score for my team and win the game,” Santiago said. “When I have a chance to score, I’m going to take it. When I have a chance to give my teammates a chance to score, I’m going to give my teammates that chance.”
Patterson added, “Last year, we didn’t find her enough. This year, we’re doing a better job of finding her out there and when she gets the ball out wide, she takes those 1 v. 1, and she’s going to win most of those battles. She’s a supremely talented player. We’re not surprised by what she’s done at all.”
‘It fuels us’
With Freehold Township just one spot behind top-ranked Westfield in the state rankings, it appears the Patriots and Blue Devils are on a collision course to meet again in the state final. Freehold Township relishes the opportunity to get back to the big game.
There’s still a long way to go and other talented teams to beat. The Patriots aren’t getting ahead of themselves, but they’re also never losing sight of where they want to be in November.
“It fuels us,” Parker said.
Danny LoGiudice has covered local sports across New Jersey since 2014. Contact him at [email protected] or @danny_logiudice on Twitter.