Girl Varsity Soccer: Lee and Bair Give Holmdel a Win Over Mater Dei

Photo: Holmdel forward Hannah Lee scores her 6th goal of the season.

The Holmdel girls varsity team rolled on to a 6-0 record with a win Tuesday over Mater Dei Prep.

The first half was a defensive battle. Holmdel’s best chance to score came with about 10 minutes left in the first when Catherine Cirigliano got off a well placed shot that was sent wide by Mater Dei’s keeper. Holmdel’s starting midfielders, Senior Danielle Pantaleone and freshman Abbey Flynn in the center and senior Jamie Roth and junior Catherine Cirigliano on the outside, kept the ball moving towards the Mater Dei net. Yet, despite their efforts, the half ended without a score. Credit the strong play of the Mater Dei defense as they were able to slow down the Holmdel attack.

With the second half just underway, Holmdel intensified it’s effort and Hannah Lee was able to connect on a pass from Abbey Flynn. That was Lee’s 6th goal of the season. Mater Dei kept up the pressure and had its best opportunity of the game go just wide of the goal at about the middle of the half. Holmdel was able to add an insurance goal to their scoring column in the 28th minute of the second half when Gabby Bair shed the defense and headed towards goal on a breakaway. The Mater Dei goalie came out but Bair shot the ball just wide of the diving keeper for her 5th goal of the season. Holmdel goalkeeper senior Helen Burleigh picked up her third shutout of the season and defender Maggie Matthijs had an outstanding game stopping many Mater Dei drives before they could develop and heading off one breakaway that could have been disastrous for Holmdel late in the second half.

The Holmdel girls varsity team plays again on Friday with a divisional game at Monmouth Regional at 3:45 p.m. The Hornets record now stands at 6-0(4-0). Come on out and support our student athletes. They are having a great season and love cheering fans encouraging their efforts