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| Girls Soccer SCT - Cobb-Stopper: Freehold 0, RBC 0 (Freehold advances in shootout, 3-1) | |||||
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NEPTUNE - The top-seeded Freehold Borough girls soccer team entered the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals against No. 8 Manalapan Monday with a perfect 14-0 record and since as not scored a goal in 200 minutes of soccer.
Despite the offensive drought, the Colonials will play for their first SCT championship in five seasons thanks to the dominance of four-year starting goalkeeper Sara Cobb.
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| Freehold goalkeeper Sara Cobb makes the first of her three saves during the shootout round that propelled the Colonials into the first SCT championship game since 2008. (Photo by Cliff Lavelle) |
Cobb made six saves in the first 100 minutes of Freehold's game against fifth-seeded Red Bank Catholic Wednesday night at Memorial Field, then made three consecutive saves to close out the round of penalty kicks to help the Colonials survive their second straight shootout victory with a 3-1 win over the Caseys following a scoreless tie.
Freehold will play No. 2 Toms River North on Saturday evening at Memorial Field as it looks to remain unbeaten (14-0-2) on the season.
"For the last four years, Sara Cobb has been nothing but clutch," Freehold coach Elyse Ingui said. "Sara is the one goalie in the state who you know is always going to make the big save, especially in penalty kicks."
This is the second straight penalty-kicks victory for Freehold, with the Colonials advancing past Manalapan Monday with a 4-2 edge in the shootout, with Cobb making two saves in that one as well.
"You have to have confidence," Cobb said. "I like that moment because I know if I'm confident, my team is going to be confident. I don't feel the pressure, because saving a penalty kick is a lot easier to save a penalty kick than to make a penalty kick, so the credit goes to our shooters for stepping up."
Red Bank Catholic senior Marina Davi caught Cobb guessing incorrectly on the Caseys' first attempt of the shootout and that was Cobb's lone mistake of the night. With her teammates converting three of their four attempts in the shootout, Cobb stopped the next three RBC attempts, the last one with a leaping stab on a shot headed to the upper left of the goal by Christina Balacco to set off the celebration.
"I had so much fun tonight," Cobb said. "I live for these games and moments like that. I couldn't have asked for anything more."
Cobb saved Liz Thoreson's shot to the lower left of the net on the second attempt by Red Bank Catholic. That stop came after RBC freshman goalkeeper Jackie Robinson nearly saved a shot by freshman Ashley Latona, but she deflected the ball over her and into the net. Robinson made the save on the next attempt to get RBC even again, but Cobb again came through by saving an attempt by Grace Correll.
Junior Cori Ahde put Freehold up 3-1 with a well-placed shot to the upper part of the goal. Cobb then ended the shootout with her best save on a shot ticketed for the upper right corner by Balacco.
"It was all gut," Cobb said of her approach. "I've been there before and I know what to expect, but still, I just have to go with my gut and trust my instincts."
Cobb saved six shots and pounced on numerous other loose balls in the box to help the Freehold defense, which was also superb. Sophomore Lindsay Cerio and senior Delaney Boyer shut down the middle of the field and senior Chelsi Bender and junior Christina Stabile closed off the outside, ran with Red Bank Catholic's runners on the flanks and made runs of their own out of the back.
"These games take all the heart in the world," Cobb said. "Playing 100 minutes of soccer is not easy at all. You have to be into it for every second, because the second you let your guard down could be the second you lose the game. The fact that we've been able to play two games like that and come out on top says a lot about the heart of this team."
Robinson also had a strong 100 minutes for the Caseys and came up with one save in the shootout. She saved eight shots while helping the Caseys stave off a 14-8 disadvantage in shots.
The Caseys had two quality scoring opportunities during the game, the first on a header by Grace Correll that missed the right crossbar by about a foot in the 32nd minute. Caseys top goal-scorer Mackenzie Cowley also had a quality chance late in the second half on a shot from 12 yards out on the right side, but Cobb made a diving save on the shot heading toward the far post.
Freehold last reached the SCT final in 2008, when the Colonials lost to Red Bank Catholic, the first of three straight championships for the Caseys. The six seniors on this year's team just missed out on that championship run, but after putting in a full four years, they are reaping the same rewards that the 2008 team did and will look to take home the program's first championship since 2007.
"This team is built on hard work," Ingui said. "Every single girl, from the moment we started practice this summer, has been giving 100 percent and this whole season has been a product of the work they've put in. We're fortunate enough to still be undefeated at this point, but honestly, that's not what our girls are thinking about. They've been focused on each game and we're going to focus on Saturday and hopefully we can win one more."
Box Score
Freehold 0, Red Bank Catholic 0
Freehold advances in a shootout, 3-1
| 1 | 2 | OT | OT | PK | F | ||
| Red Bank Catholic (16-1-1, 12-0-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | 0 |
| Freehold (14-0-2, 12-0-0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | - | 0 |
Penalty Kicks: (RBC) Davi; (F) Cerio, Latona, Ahde
Shots: Freehold, 14-8
Saves: (RBC) Robinson 8; (F) Cobb 6
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Shore Girls Soccer: Sara Cobb sends Freehold Borough to the Shore Conference final with a scoreless win in PKs over Red Bank Catholic
Red Bank Catholic’s Christina Blanco put the ball on the nine yard line in a must score situation. She took a deep breath, a step forward, and sent the ball towards the upper left corner of the net. Freehold Borough’s Sara Cobb instinctively dove to the left and smacked the ball over the crossbar to send top-seeded Freehold Borough to the Shore Conference Finals with the scoreless victory over sixth-seeded Red Bank Catholic.
Cobb made ten saves on the day, including a second chance opportunity by Mackenzie Cowley that she denied with a sliding stop at the end of regulation. Red Bank Catholic’s Jackie Robinson, a freshman, stopped twelve shots as both keepers posted shutouts and the game was decided by penalty kicks.
Freehold Borough (14-0-2) shot first and Lindsay Cerio beat Robinson to the left. Red Bank Catholic’s Marina Davi sent a roller inside the left post to tie the penalty kicks at one apiece.
Robinson nearly stopped a low drive by Ashley Latona, but the ball bounced off her foot into the net. Coriann Ahde scored the clinching goal top shelf that Robinson could just watch fly into the right corner of the net.
Cobb stopped Red Bank Catholic’s final three shooters including a diving save to the right on Liz Thoreson, a kick save on Grace Correll, and the punch-out on Blanco that sent Freehold Borough, No.7 in The Star-Ledger top 20, to the Shore Conference Final.
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Red Bank Catholic's Mackenzie Cowley and Freehold Boro's Chelsi Bender battle for a first-half header. / PETER ACKERMAN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Freehold senior defender Chelsi Bender jumped into senior goalie Sara Cobb’s arms just before the Colonials were to shake hands with Red Bank Catholic after the Shore Conference Tournament semifinal on Wednesday night.
Cobb had the shining moment in the penalty kick round as neither the Colonials or the Caseys let up a goal in 100 minutes of soccer at the Summerfield Elementary School. So, it was on to the penalty kick round.
Freehold went first in penalty kicks, scored first and maintained the lead in penalty kicks thanks to Cobb saving three of the four penalty kicks she faced.
The final result was Freehold winning, 3-1, on penalty kicks and advancing to Saturday’s 5 p.m. Shore Conference Tournament final against No. 2 seed Toms River North.
“You really don’t know what to expect in penalty kicks. You go with your gut and if you are right then you are right,” said Cobb, who made 10 saves. “So, whatever my gut says, I go with it.”
Her gut led her to deny Red Bank Catholic’s final three penalty kicks, which clinched the victory for the Colonials (16-0).
Freehold sophomore defender Lindsay Cerio was the first shooter and she scored waist high to the left against Red Bank Catholic freshman goalie Jackie Robinson (12 saves) for a 1-0 lead in penalty kicks
Red Bank Catholic senior defender Marina Davi was the Casey’s first shooter and she scored to the lower left to tie it 1-1.
Freehold freshman midfielder Ashley Latona then gave her team the lead for good on a play that she didn’t even see. Latona shot the ball and saw Robinson make the initial stop, but the ball deflected off Robinson’s hands and went in as Latona had turned around and was on her way back to midfield.
“I saw our fans cheering and that’s how I knew it went it and that was the best moment ever,” Latona said. “I have my spot and that’s where I went in the game against Manalapan and I scored last time. I was so nervous and then I thought she saved it but then it went in.”
After Latona gave her team the lead, Cobb then closed the door on Red Bank Catholic’s next three shooters junior midfielder Liz Thoreson, junior midfielder Grace Correll and sophomore midfielder Christina Balacco by making three saves.
“My defense has been there for me this entire season. I’m proud to be a part of this team and get the work done that needs to be done on my part,” Cobb said. “They’ve done it for me the entire season and I was very happy to do it for them today.”
Freehold junior midfielder Cori Ahde, the team’s fourth shooter, went top shelf to the right side to score the Colonial’s third penalty kick goal after senior midfielder Delaney Boyer, the team’s third shooter, had her shot saved by Robinson.
“You tell them to pick their spots and go where they are confident. It is a tough thing to do in this kind of atmosphere with people watching,” said Red Bank Catholic coach Ken Santos of the penalty kick round.
Freehold had the overall advantage in shots, 18-11, and withstood Red Bank Catholic (17-2) winning the shots total in the first overtime 3-1. The Colonials won the shots total in the second overtime, 2-0, but none of the combined 29 shots in the game resulted in a goal.
Wednesday’s victory for Freehold was also the second consecutive SCT tournament game the Colonials have won on penalty kicks after defeating No. 9 seed Manalapan, 4-2, on penalty kicks on Monday afternoon.
Cobb had the shining moment in the penalty kick round as neither the Colonials or the Caseys let up a goal in 100 minutes of soccer at the Summerfield Elementary School. So, it was on to the penalty kick round.
Freehold went first in penalty kicks, scored first and maintained the lead in penalty kicks thanks to Cobb saving three of the four penalty kicks she faced.
The final result was Freehold winning, 3-1, on penalty kicks and advancing to Saturday’s 5 p.m. Shore Conference Tournament final against No. 2 seed Toms River North.
“You really don’t know what to expect in penalty kicks. You go with your gut and if you are right then you are right,” said Cobb, who made 10 saves. “So, whatever my gut says, I go with it.”
Her gut led her to deny Red Bank Catholic’s final three penalty kicks, which clinched the victory for the Colonials (16-0).
Freehold sophomore defender Lindsay Cerio was the first shooter and she scored waist high to the left against Red Bank Catholic freshman goalie Jackie Robinson (12 saves) for a 1-0 lead in penalty kicks
Red Bank Catholic senior defender Marina Davi was the Casey’s first shooter and she scored to the lower left to tie it 1-1.
Freehold freshman midfielder Ashley Latona then gave her team the lead for good on a play that she didn’t even see. Latona shot the ball and saw Robinson make the initial stop, but the ball deflected off Robinson’s hands and went in as Latona had turned around and was on her way back to midfield.
“I saw our fans cheering and that’s how I knew it went it and that was the best moment ever,” Latona said. “I have my spot and that’s where I went in the game against Manalapan and I scored last time. I was so nervous and then I thought she saved it but then it went in.”
After Latona gave her team the lead, Cobb then closed the door on Red Bank Catholic’s next three shooters junior midfielder Liz Thoreson, junior midfielder Grace Correll and sophomore midfielder Christina Balacco by making three saves.
“My defense has been there for me this entire season. I’m proud to be a part of this team and get the work done that needs to be done on my part,” Cobb said. “They’ve done it for me the entire season and I was very happy to do it for them today.”
Freehold junior midfielder Cori Ahde, the team’s fourth shooter, went top shelf to the right side to score the Colonial’s third penalty kick goal after senior midfielder Delaney Boyer, the team’s third shooter, had her shot saved by Robinson.
“You tell them to pick their spots and go where they are confident. It is a tough thing to do in this kind of atmosphere with people watching,” said Red Bank Catholic coach Ken Santos of the penalty kick round.
Freehold had the overall advantage in shots, 18-11, and withstood Red Bank Catholic (17-2) winning the shots total in the first overtime 3-1. The Colonials won the shots total in the second overtime, 2-0, but none of the combined 29 shots in the game resulted in a goal.
Wednesday’s victory for Freehold was also the second consecutive SCT tournament game the Colonials have won on penalty kicks after defeating No. 9 seed Manalapan, 4-2, on penalty kicks on Monday afternoon.
Love that top picture of Sara. Go Freehold Borough!
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