Boys Soccer – Freehold Tops Neptune, Attempts to Flip the Script on Postseason Push

NEPTUNE - Following Monday's Shore Conference Class A North game against Neptune at Summerfield  Elementary School, the players on the Freehold Boro boys soccer team found themselves in a position identical to the one last year's 5-12 team was in.

Fresh off snapping a four-game losing streak, the Colonials are confident this year will turn out a lot better than 2016.

Senior Jake Brower scored a goal and assisted another by junior Andrew Greitz to spark Freehold Boro to a 2-1 win over the Scarlet Fliers.

Brower opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he held his line on a through-ball from sophomore Isaac Ball, ran onto it and slotted the ball to the far left side netting.

The Colonials increased the lead to two goals when Brower's corner kick found the head of Greitz, who slammed the ball out of the air and into the goal in the 68th minute.

Neptune cut its deficit to 2-1 two minutes after conceding the second goal. Junior Dylan Schembri won position in the box following a 40-yard free kick by Mickenna Church and poked the ball to the far right corner of the goal.

Fliers leading scorer Wilby Alfred sat for most of the second half without an injury and entered the game again in the 74th minute, but his presence could not get Neptune the equalizer. Neptune scored its only goal with Alfred on the sideline.

Freehold's current season has played almost identically to last year, when the Colonials started 4-4, dropped to 4-7 and beat Neptune to improve to 5-7. The Colonials lost their last five games to finish 5-12.

This year, Freehold started 4-3 before it dropped four straight matches to again fall to 4-7 before again beating Neptune to improve to 5-7. With four games remaining before the Oct. 12 Shore Conference Tournament cutoff, the Colonials still don't have much margin for error with A North showdowns against Manalapan, Marlboro, Colts Neck and Howell still on tap.

Box Score

Freehold Boro 2, Neptune 1

Goals (Assists): (F) Jake Brower (Isaac Ball) 16', Andrew Greitz (Jake Brower) 68'; (N) Dylan Schembri (Mickenna Church) 70'
Shots: Freehold Boro, 11-6
Saves: (FB) Brendan Duffy 4; (N) Seamus McAnee 6