Shore Conference Girls Soccer Group Semifinal Scoreboard, 11/17/21
NJSIAA Group Semifinals
Group IV
Freehold Township 2, Toms River North 1
Sophomore Ainsley Moy buried a left-footed blast from 20 yards out and freshman Gaby Parker scrapped for the game-winner just before halftime as the Patriots (22-0-1) bounced back from a one-goal deficit to beat the Mariners (20-2-1), remain unbeaten and reach the Group IV championship game for the third time in seven years.
Toms River North jumped on top in the 18th minute, when sophomore Alexis Garcia timed a bouncing ball in the box off a corner kick by senior Faith Wavershak and volleyed it into the left corner of the goal for a 1-0 Mariners lead.
A little more than five minutes later, Freehold Township struck back. Sophomore Cassidy Corcione beat a defender and slid the ball over to Moy, who juked a defender and unleashed a left-footed strike that dipped under the bar for the equalizer.
Freehold Township took over the lead just before the half, starting with a long free kick by senior Kelsey Gilroy. Sophomore Hailey Santiago got a touch on Gilroy's service and Parker knocked it in with 1:27 left until the half showing on the scoreboard clock.
Toms River North had two golden opportunities to tie the game in the 67th and 68th minutes, with senior Emma Eberle popping a shot from inside the six-yard box over the crossbar and junior Madison DiEugenio heading a shot off the crossbar a minute later.
After surviving its trip to Toms River with an unbeaten record and No. 1 ranking in the state intact, Freehold Township will head to Kean University on Sunday to take on No. 2 Westfield in a high-profile showdown with both the Group IV championship and top ranking in the state on the line.
Group III
Princeton 1, Lacey 0 (OT)
Senior Lehigh commit Sophia Lis pinged a shot off the far right post and in from the left edge of the 18-yard box early in the first overtime period and the Tigers (21-2) dealt the Lions (15-7-2) a heartbreaking end to a memorable season for the program.
Lacey won its first South Jersey Group III championship since 2003 on Saturday and went to overtime Wednesday looking to reach the state final for just the second time ever.
Princeton will play Wayne Valley in Sunday's Group III championship game at Kean University.
Group II
Holmdel 4, Haddonfield 2
Senior Juliana Kolbasovsky scored two goals and assisted another by sophomore Mia Giamanco to lead the Hornets (18-1-1) back from a 2-0 deficit to beat the Bulldogs (14-8-1) and reach the Group II semifinal for third time in eight years and first time since 2015.
After falling into the 2-0 hole, Holmdel battled back to tie the game by halftime. Kolbasovsky converted a penalty kick, then flicked a header toward the far right post, where Giamanco knocked it in.
Senior Izabella DeMatos connected on the go-ahead goal in the 19th minute and Kolbasovsky capped the scoring in the 66th to put the game away.
Holmdel will take on Hanover Park in the Group II final on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Kean University.
Group I
Shore 2, Schalick 0
Seniors Clara Ford and Lauren Saponaro scored seven minutes apart in the first half and the Blue Devils (12-5-4) held on to blank the Cougars (16-5-1) and reach the Group I final for the eighth time in 10 years.
Ford scored 10 minutes into the match off a pass from junior Riley Bazydlo and seven minutes later, Saponaro extended the lead to 2-0 off a feed from senior Mia Agresti.