Freehold Boro ... repeat champs
Colonials repeat as Central Jersey soccer champs
Freehold Boro beats Hightstown
BY TIM MORRIS Staff Writer
As the players' shadows on the soccer pitch grew larger, so did Freehold Borough's mastery of Hightstown.

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRANIT staff Above: Freehold Borough's Amy Flannigan (17) clears the ball in front of Hightstown's Christa Lausten in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Sectional Final in Hightstown Nov. 8. Right: Freehold Borough's Jackie Scalgione goes up for a head ball as Hightstown goalkeeper Tara Miluszewski pulls it down in the sectional final. Freehold Borough went on to win the game 3-0 to clinch their second group title in as many years. The Colonials were scheduled to play Moorestown last night, with the winner advancing to the state title game Saturday at The College of New Jersey, Ewing.

Scoring three times in the second half, Freehold Borough completed its run to a second straight NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III girls soccer championship with a convincing 3-0 win over top-seeded Hightstown.

Kim Bauerenfiend struck for a pair of goals and Shannon Mayrose scored the other as the defending State Group III cochampions marched on.

For Bauerenfiend, Thursday's goal production was the result of doing her job.

"I was trying to get in position where I'm supposed to be, inside the 18 [yard line] and pick up anything that comes from the outside," she said.

She was doing just that when Mayrose delivered a crossing pass that Bauerenfiend one-timed inside the near post to break a scoreless tie 8:46 into the second half.

Mayrose, who was a goal-scoring machine during the regular season, has been displaying her versatility becoming the team's top playmaker in the playoffs.

"I've focused on setting other people up, and it's working," she said. "Soccer is a team sport."

Hightstown, the top seed, had been hanging around thanks to the aggressive play of goalie Tara Miluszewski. The tall keeper was neutralizing the outstanding serves into the box by Amy Flannigan by snatching the passes in midair in traffic.

These same two teams had played last year in Freehold in the semifinals, with Freehold needing a second-half rally to tie Hightstown before winning the match in overtime, 2-1.

Thursday's sequel was less dramatic. Less than 10 minutes after Bauerenfiend put Freehold Borough on top, Mayrose struck off a set from Flannigan. Mayrose, using her own height to her advantage, controlled the ball in the air and kicked the ball over the goal line before a Ram defender could kick it out.

Hightstown was in a near-impossible position of trying to score two goals against a defense as formidable as Freehold's. Simon Dixon, in particular, had an outstanding game for the Freehold defense that hadn't permitted a single goal in the playoffs. It gave up just one shot on goal in the first half.

The Rams would, however, get one chance to get back into the match with 16:00 remaining. The Rams' most dangerous player, Erika Juricik, was able to get past the Freehold defense and rush on goalie Ashley Lewis. Lewis promptly came out of the goal to cut down the angle and made a kick save. It was vintage '06 for Lewis, and for the Rams, their final salvo.

With 8:13 remaining, Bauerenfiend scored her second goal of the match off a Flannigan pass, and the rest of the match was academic. Freehold was moving on to the State Group III semifinals.

Although the Colonials have most of the starters back from the '06 Central Jersey and State Group III champions, the players pointed out, the 2007 team wasn't same.

"This is a new team with new players and a new coach," said Bauerenfiend. "We came together and said, 'This is a new season, a new start.' "

A new start with some familiar results.

Mayrose said that the returning players wanted the newcomers on the team to experience the same feeling they did last year.

Being the defending champion was a motivator for the Colonials.

"It's exciting having the bull's-eye on your back and getting by teams," she said.

Head coach Elyse Bizzozzaro pointed out that while this team has different components, it shares some traits with last year's champions.

"The heart, desire and intensity is still there," she said.

Freehold Borough was scheduled to play its state semifinal game with South Jersey champion Moorestown last night. The state championship will be held Saturday at The College of New Jersey, Ewing.

Bauerenfiend noted that the Colonials won't be satisfied with their season unless they are playing for the state title.

In its semifinal round on Nov. 5, Freehold Borough faced another rematch from '06 in Hopewell Valley (15-5-1). That CJ III final was an exhausting overtime affair that ended swiftly on Mayrose's golden goal and a 1-0 Borough win.

The '07 rematch was all Freehold Borough. Genna Opatut, who can ignite the offense off the bench, broke the game open, scoring a pair of goals within two minutes in the final 10 minutes of the first half, staking the champions to a 2-0 lead.

Jackie Scalgione and Flannigan added to the lead with goals in the second half for the easy 4-0 win. Mayrose assisted on Opatut's first goal and Scalgione's goal. Lewis made two saves en route to another shutout.