Girls Soccer – NJSIAA Group Final Scoreboard, 11/21/21
NJSIAA Group Finals
At Kean University
Group II
Holmdel 2, Hanover Park 0 - Story/Highlights
Senior Juliana Kolbasovsky scored two goals in the second half and the Hornets (19-1-1) shut out Hanover Park (13-6-2) to win the program's second ever Group II title and first since 2014.
Holmdel's defense held Hanover Park without a shot until the 53rd minute and the Hornets finally gained the edge on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute. Kolbasovsky split two defenders and was tripped up in the middle of the 18-yard box, resulting in a penalty kick.
The senior stepped to the spot, took a long look and buried the kick into the lower left of the goal to break the scoreless deadlock.
With Hanover Park pushing to equalize, Holmdel got its insurance goal in the 71st. Senior Mia Giamanco served a corner kick to the near side of the 18-yard box and Kolbasovsky flicked a header just under the crossbar for her second goal of the game and ninth in six NJSIAA Tournament games.
Holmdel held in the back for the final nine-plus minutes, with senior goalkeeper Katrina Walier making two more saves to wrap up her third clean sheet of the Group II Tournament.
Group IV
Westfield 1, Freehold Twp. 0 - Story/Highlights
Junior Alyssa Martinez scored the winning goal with eight seconds left and the Blue Devils (21-0-1) defeated the Patriots (22-1-1) in thrilling -- and heartbreaking -- fashion to win the Group IV championship, complete an undefeated season and secure the No. 1 ranking in New Jersey to finish the 2021 season.
The game-winning sequence began on a counter-attack led by senior Kelly Sullivan who advanced the ball up to Martinez. Martinez played a give-and-go with junior Chiara Cosenza, getting the ball back on the right side of the field and cutting it back toward the near post.
With time winding down, Martinez took her shot, and while Freehold Township goalkeeper Ashley Moore got her hands on the ball, it was high and hard enough that the ball nicked the crossbar. Moore held onto the ball, but her momentum carried her over the end line to make it a game-winning goal for Martinez in the final seconds.
Freehold Township controlled the play for the first 60 minutes but over the final 20, Westfield began to mount a threat while taking Freehold Township out of its rhythm. The Patriots had a 9-4 edge in shots past the midway point of the second half, but their shots were mostly from beyond the top of the 18-yard box.
Over the final 20 minutes, Westfield dominated possession and outshot Freehold Township, 8-1.
Group I
Shore 3, Mountain Lakes 2 (OT) - Story
Sophomore Ava Agresti knocked in a cross from senior Lauren Saponaro in the fifth minute of overtime and to complete a furious comeback by the Blue Devils (13-5-4) against the Herd (19-4-2), giving Shore its fifth Group I championship -- all in the last nine seasons and the first since 2017.
Two second-half goals by Mountain Lakes senior Henna Andican buried Shore in a 2-0 hole but the Blue Devils drew even with two quick strikes. Senior Mia Agresti bent a corner kick right in front of the goal and senior Barbara Grimm knocked it in to break up the shutout in the 63rd minute.
Just 37 seconds later, Mia Agresti saw space, took a touch and drilled a 30-yard strike to the upper right corner of the goal to level the game at 2-2.
Ava Agresti had a chance to end the game in regulation with a shot from the top of the box that skimmed just wide of the left post, but the sophomore got a second chance in overtime.
Five minutes into the first extra period, Saponaro beat a defender up the right flank and hit a cross to the front of the net. Ava Agresti got one touch on it, it settled in front of her and she punched it in from close range to set off the celebration.
Senior goalkeeper Parker Grimm also made a pair of key saves in the first half to prevent further damage.