In girls’ soccer, Middletown High School South is talented and energetic.
The Eagles control possession, attack the box and score impressive goals.
They did all three at Freehold Township High School on Oct. 2. Despite playing against the Patriots, who won the Shore Conference’s A North Division two days later, the Eagles controlled the ball, pressured the goalkeeper and scored two awesome goals.
Yet, despite the strong showing, Middletown South fell to Freehold Township, 3-2, after allowing a late goal that broke the tie. And even though they look like a solid club, the Eagles are 0-4-2 in their last six games. They are still 4-5-2 overall.
“I think we have the potential and talent to be a great team. It seems like we’re outshooting teams every game,” said Middletown South coach Meg Barry. “We’re just having a hard time putting the game away. It was nice to get those two goals in the second half (against Freehold Township). Moving forward, hopefully we can do the same thing.”
Middletown South has some electric talent. Both goals against Freehold Township, the 2017 Group 4 state co-champion, showcased that talent.
On the first goal, early in the second half, Emma Laudisi dribbled into the box with a defender draped all over her. Laudisi held out her left arm to create a tiny bit of space, which was all she needed.
The junior booted the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the top of the net. It was her team-leading sixth goal of 2018.
“I had to fight to get myself open, but I had an open shot and I just took it,” Laudisi said. “That started momentum for us to score again.”
About six minutes later, Emily McCarthy raced into the box and headed the ball over two defenders and the goalie, into the top of the net. It was the defender’s third goal of the season.
“(Middletown South midfielder) Mady (Laudisi) chipped it up and I just headed it in,” McCarthy said. “It shows that you can come together as a team and really work around defenders, rather than one person just dribbling up the field.”
The goals tied the game at two and revealed how fast Middletown South can score when it’s finishing chances. But the Eagles were not able to finish enough chances at Freehold Township, especially in the first half, when they hit the crossbar on a shot and went 0-for-4 on corner kicks.
“I wouldn’t change a lot (about our team). It’s just when the opportunities are available, you have to get the job done,” Barry said. “Defensively I wouldn’t change much either. You just can’t have the one or two second letdown. You have to play the full 40 minutes.”
On Oct. 2, Freehold Township scored two goals by getting behind the Eagles’ defenders. The Patriots scored another on a penalty kick after a Middletown South defender fouled a forward in the box.
Against the best team in its division, Middletown South lost by the slimmest of margins. One or two plays made the difference.
This has been the case throughout Middletown South’s cold streak. The Eagles have three one-goal losses in their last five games.
Barry is confident that her team is just experiencing bad luck.
“I have players that are very talented, and workhorses. They don’t stop. They keep moving,” Barry said. “It’s funny. I was talking to someone today and they’re like, ‘It’s going to turn around.’ Something is going to happen to us that will propel us to where we need to be.”
Middletown South has two regular season games left, at Marlboro High School on Oct. 10 and versus Saint John Vianney High School on Oct. 12. At 4-5-2, they are still very much alive in the Shore Conference tournament race. The Eagles need to finish above .500 to qualify for the field.
“We are definitely going to show up there,” McCarthy said.
“Our main goal now is to finish strong,” Laudisi added.
