Colonials have remained focused

Complacency has never been a concern for coach Elyse Bizzozzaro and the Freehold Borough High School girls soccer team.

Despite all the trappings of success (two state titles and four division crowns), the Colonials have remained a hungry, focused team.

"They've been coming out with intensity and playing Freehold Borough soccer," said Bizzozzaro. "They're great athletes and they play soccer to win."

A big motivation for the seniorladen Colonials is just that, they are seniors, and they don't want their careers to end on a sour note.

"All the seniors feel the same, we want to go out with a bang," said forward Shannon Mayrose.

That senior experience matters to these Colonials.

"We've been through it all, the ups and downs" said Mayrose. "We know what it takes (to win)."

No one can dispute that. As the socalled second season, the playoffs, start, the Colonials are undefeated. This week they will seek a second Shore Conference Tournament championship in three years and next will begin their run for a third straight Group III State title.

All season long, however, the Colonials have avoided looking ahead. It's cliché, for sure, but they have been playing it gameto game and taking nothing for granted.

"Just because we're undefeated doesn't mean we're perfect," said Mayrose. "We haven't been. We have things to work on."

Among them, Bizzozzaro noted, is building their attack more consistently. Mayrose (20 goals) has been seeing every defense imaginable in an effort to shut her down. Even though she's still among the Shore's leaders, the Colonials have been getting contributions from several players including fellow seniors Alexa Rozzi and Jackie Scalgione.

"We have to look for other options," said Bizzozzaro.

With Mayrose becoming a more polished playmaker (eight assists), the Colonials are making it difficult for teams to defend them.

The Colonials great advantage in ball possession stems from its remarkable defense led by sweeper Alexandra (Booey) Eagle. They keep the ball out of their end of the field.

"Booey has the defense locked in," said Bizzozzaro.

Keeper Ashley Lewis keeps extending her school record for career shut outs with every blanking.

Freehold Borough won the Shore Conference B North title (its fourth straight) on Oct. 18 at Wall beating the Crimson Knights 1-0 on Mayrose's unassisted tally.

Throughout its run to the division title and the undefeated season, Bizzozzaro pointed out the team has not fallen into the trap of playing not to lose.

"They've stayed pretty aggressive," she said. "They know what

to do in the close games."

What has helped keep things fresh for the Colonials has been the influx of newcomers who have been able to contribute.

Karlie Korz, a freshman, is the first player off the bench.

Sara Hartigan (defense) Georgia Johnson (forward) and Maria Caldarise (midfield) have provided depth at their positions and give Bizzozzaro flexibility.

The newcomers have in turn have learned what it means to play Freehold Borough soccer from the seniors.

"It's playing with heart and never giving up," explained Mayrose.

Freehold Borough completed its regular season on Oct. 21 with a 2-0 win over cross-town rival Freehold Township. Mayrose (assisted by Nicole Paulucci) scored the first goal and assisted on Eagle's insurance tally. Lewis made 13 saves in registering her 11th shut out of the season. The Colonials were 13-0.

In Friday's Shore Conference Tournament opener, the Colonials proved they are still masters of the overtime. Rozzi's goal in the 99th minute gave Freehold Borough a 1-0 win over Ocean Township lifting them to 14-0.

The SCT semi-finals are tonight at Neptune High School's soccer field. The final is Saturday at 7 p.m. (the boys SCT final precedes it at 5).

After the SCT, it's on to the state tournament and the final time around for seniors Mayrose, Eagle, Lewis, Rozzi, Scalgione, Angie Pantoja, Alyssa Rudic and Karisa Poskanko.