Freehold Township looking ahead to state field hockey tournament

Going into the NJSIAA Central Jersey, Group 4 sectional field hockey tournament, Freehold Township High School is playing well.

The Patriots are 4-1 in their last five games, including a 1-0 victory over Colts Neck High School in their regular season finale on Oct. 19.

Freehold Township’s only loss during this stretch came on Oct. 16 at Rumson-Fair Haven High School, in the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals.

The Patriots lost 8-0, but the Bulldogs were the top seed in the Shore Conference Tournament. They are also a state power, having won the Group 2 state tournament title in 2017.

So, the defeat undoubtedly prepared Freehold Township for tough state sectional opponents. The Patriots may not run into a team as good as Rumson-Fair Haven in the near future.

And against the Bulldogs, Freehold Township had a major reason for encouragement. Goalkeeper Alexandra Carnevale withstood a 22-shot onslaught pretty well, making 10 saves. She showed she could keep the Patriots in the game against a strong opponent.

The sophomore has had a solid year, making 87 saves and recording seven shutouts. In games where Freehold Township possesses the ball for long stretches, Carnevale makes the Patriots a complete team.

“Everybody coming together and supporting me really helps,” Carnevale said earlier in the season. “It gives me the confidence to make those saves.”

The Oct. 16 loss to Rumson-Fair Haven was an anomaly. Overall, the Patriots are a complete team. They are 12-4 and have outscored opponents, 35-17, in their other 15 games, besides the Rumson-Fair Haven loss.

Freehold Township just has to possess the ball and keep the pressure off its defense and goalkeeper. It did that against Colts Neck in its season finale, which showed that the Patriots can bounce back after a tough defeat.

“We can come together. We’re a lot stronger as a team than just one person or individual,” said Freehold Township’s Emma Butrym earlier in the season. “We all come together to make the victories.”

“We can’t rely on one person, or even multiple people,” said Freehold Township’s Julia Eriksen after a game earlier this season. “It has to be all of us working together if we really want to succeed in the season.”

Freehold Township reached the semifinals of the state sectional tournament in 2017.

Eriksen and Butrym lead the team with 13 goals and 10 assists, respectively. Catherine Papa has recorded nine goals and four assists. They form a potent offensive trio.

When they score, Freehold Township usually wins.

They don’t even have to score a lot.

The Patriots are 8-1 when the team scores at least two goals in 2018. They also have five 1-0 victories.

So, offense will be the key for Freehold Township in the state sectional tournament. The Patriots open the tournament against Lenape High School on Oct. 26.