Chatham United Freedom Completes Undefeated Season

The Chatham United Freedom completed an undefeated season in the Morris County Under 14 Group 2 Flight after dominating the Independent Northstars 2-0 on Sunday at Cougar Field.

"It was encouraging to see them come together and play the way that I wanted them to play," said Head Coach Tracey Blanchard.

In prior seasons the Chatham team failed to win its flight, and in her first season in coaching the U-14 team, Blanchard was able to optimize her team's performance and deliver an undefeated record.

"They took any instruction I had and just soaked it up," said Blanchard. "They didn't complain at all, and I'm very proud of them."

Blanchard, who is the Chatham High School girls' varsity coach, noted that she wanted to work with the team on fundamentals this season.

The team has practiced specific techniques—it has practiced without nets—in an effort to increase the team's skill, and it worked. The Freedom scored more goals this year than in previous years. 

"Their first touch has gotten a lot better, they're using their left foot, and they know how to be aggressive in the right situations," said Blanchard.                

The team's improvement this season was on display against its Northstar counterparts. The Freedom consistently moved the ball around the Independent team as if the players were cones, using one crossover after the other to generate solid scoring opportunities, knowing it was only a matter of time before they would score.                

After a scoreless first half, during which Chatham's Shana McLaughlin nearly scored off a left footed shot, the Freedom received a scare. After a precise pass caught the Chatham defenders off guard, goaltender Casey Madura was left all alone to challenge the Independent shooter. Madura used cat-like reflexes to snag the bullet coming at her and deny the Northstars on one of their few scoring opportunities.

Madura and the Freedom surrendered just eight goals in 10 games this season.

The save gave the Freedom the momentum. Natalie Washuta scored on a free kick, placing the ball to the top right corner of the net to make it 1-0. Washuta added a second later in the half to put the game away.

"If I look at this and see I have kids like this coming up every year, the future is very bright," said Blanchard. "Considering the fact that the varsity team itself is pretty young right now, it's going to be difficult to choose with the amount of talented players we have."