Colonials look to make it happen in postseason
Field hockey team is 11-2-2
BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

About the only thing that the Freehold Borough field hockey team didn't accomplish during its two-year run as a division champion was postseason success.

Jerry Acevedo's Colonials went from a winning program to a champion with those back-to-back Shore Conference B North Division titles. This year's team, with many new and young faces, won't win a division title, but it could make noise come tournament time.

"I'm pleased where we're at at this point," said Acevedo. "There aren't too many things we have to work on."

Freehold Borough was 11-2-2 at the end of play last week and had already clinched state sectional and conference tournament berths. The Colonials received the No. 7 seed and a first-round bye for the SCT.

What looked like a rebuilding season for the Colonials has turned into another outstanding season because of two factors, according to Acevedo. One factor is senior leadership, provided by Amy Sharpe, Jessica Lewis and Leanne Maroney. Second is overall team speed, represented by sophomore Meghan Gibson, which has made the Colonials a more explosive offensive team this year. Gibson is among the leading scorers in the conference, with eight goals and 13 assists.

Sharpe leads the team in goals scored with 11 and has five assists. Last week, when Freehold mounted one of its greatest comebacks, rallying from a 3-0 halftime deficit to tie Wall with three second-half scores, Sharpe scored twice.

Gibson is just one of six sophomores on the team who are making significant contributions. She knocked in the tying goal against Wall. Brittany McCormick, Amy Wilson and Karly Duven are the other 10th-graders who are the offensive catalysts. Duven assisted Gibson's goal against Wall.

"We're young and scrappy," said Acevedo.

McCormick has been a big plus. She is second in goals scored with eight and one assist. Duven has made her contribution as well, with five goals and three assists.

Sharpe (forward), Lewis (midfield) and Maroney (defense) provide the team with experience from the back to the front.

Molly Picard and Allison Koch have been a winning formula, splitting time in the goal. Picard has fashioned six shutouts, and Koch has three. The Colonials have enough confidence in their goalies to play more aggressively on defense.

The Colonials can play a more opened style of play because of its scoring ability. They have the ability to come back, something they haven't had, and that could be a deciding factor in the postseason.

Teams have to be at least .500 on Oct. 20 to qualify for the state playoffs. Julie Hoebee's Howell Rebels have been coming on strong and were 6-3 at the completion of last week's play. The Rebels were seeded No. 17 in the SCT.

Freehold Township has also picked it up in October and, with a 3-5-1 record, has a chance to make the states.

The Pats fell to Howell, 2-1, on Thursday in what was an important game for both teams. The Pats struck first on Callahan's goal 5:04 into the second half.

But Casey Warner (42:46) and Michelle Bonavito (57:30) responded with goals for Howell, sending the Rebels to the victory.