The Wall girls soccer team had a season to remember in 2017 and just in case the memories started to wear off, the players and coaches got a welcome reminder of their accomplishments Tuesday courtesy of MaxPreps and the N.J. National Guard.

Wall was recognized as the No. 2 team in the country according to MaxPreps' computer ranking system and presented with a trophy by the N.J. National Guard as part of MaxPreps' Tour of Champions that honors the top 10 team in the state in several sports.

The Crimson Knights players and head coach Mike Juska were honored prior to Wall's home girls basketball game against Manasquan, which happens to be the No. 1 team in the state in its sport, according to NJ.com.

During its banner season, Wall went 24-1-2 with a team led by 12 seniors and won both the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Group III Tournament championships. The Crimson Knights defeated Freehold Township - the only team to beat Wall during the season - in the SCT final and beat Westwood, 4-3, in overtime to capture the program's first ever outright state championship.

Wall accomplished all of that despite losing senior striker and Princeton University recruit Amy Paternoster to a foot injury in the team's first postseason game. Paternoster finished her career with 94 goals and 53 assists and was second on the team in goals behind fellow senior Jenna Karabin despite missing nine full postseason games.

Senior Lauren Karabin was one of Wall's top players during its run to the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Group III championships and is also the leading scorer on the basketball team.

Tuesday marked the second N.J. soccer stop on the tour of champions for MaxPreps and the National Guard. Holmdel was recognized as the No. 8 team in the country during an in-school ceremony in December following a 22-1-1 season that included Shore Conference and Group II championships.

Wall fell in its basketball game to powerhouse Manasquan, 76-45, thanks to 25 points and 14 rebounds by Warriors junior Faith Masonius and 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists by senior guard and Virginia Tech commit Dara Mabrey. Lauren Karabin led Wall with 23 points.

 

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