HS Girls Soccer Wrap: No. 16 seed Princeton High stuns No. 1 seed Freehold Township in CJ IV shootout
Nov 04, 2024
FREEHOLD TWP. — The Princeton High girls soccer team knew it was no ordinary No. 16 seed.
The Tigers were playing their best soccer at the end of the season, and even though the overall record didn’t necessarily show that, they felt like they could compete against anybody in the Central Group IV section.
Then they went out and pulled one of the rarest upsets in girls soccer.
Princeton advanced past top-seeded Freehold Township in a shootout after a 0-0 draw in a first-round game on Monday afternoon. The Tigers won, 5-4, after penalty kicks.
“I’m so proud of our girls for showing up and giving it their all,” Tigers coach Meghan Brennan said. “They came ready to play and believed in themselves.”
Charlotte Colarusso netted the winning penalty kick, while goalkeeper Julia Zaldarriaga scored one and saved one in the shootout for Princeton (7-9-3).
“”Defensively, Julia and Kacey (Howes) were incredible,” Brennan said. “They contained well and won their 1v1 battles. The whole team played so well. It was a true team effort and it was so nice to see everything come together.”
Princeton was 5-1-1 in its last seven games coming into the sectional tournament and had just beat Jackson Memorial, the third seed in Central Group III, 4-0, in a tune up game.
Freehold Twp. dropped to 12-7.
The Tigers face eighth-seeded Montgomery in the quarterfinals. The Cougars were a 2-1 winner over ninth-seeded East Brunswick.
Hunterdon Central 4, WW-PS 1
FLEMINGTON — Four different players got on the scoresheet to lead the seventh-seeded Red Devils (9-9) to a victory over the 10th-seeded Pirates (6-9-2).
Central Group II
Allentown 7, Pemberton 0
ALLENTOWN — Martha Olorunniosla scored twice to pace the attack as the seventh-seeded Redbirds (13-7-1) swatted away the 10th-seeded Hornets (14-4). Amanda Hoglund, Kaylee Feldman, Alessia Rundella, Charlie Strahle and Lauren Fanning were also on target.
Central Group III
WW-PN 7, Westampton Tech 0
PLAINSBORO — Ginny Choi notched a hat trick, Prema Budhiraja added two goals and the eighth-seeded Knights (9-9) beat ninth-seeded Westampton Tech (7-9-3) to earn a quarterfinal date with top-seeded Hopewell Valley. Saanvi Kumar and Ana Roche also scored.
Jack Memorial 3, Ewing 0
JACKSON TWP. — Ella Cook scored all three goals and the third-seeded Jaguars (7-10-1) knocked out the 14th-seeded Blue Devils (5-14). Emily Gamboa Ordini kept Ewing close with 17 saves.