By Bob Badders - Senior Staff Writer

     HIGHTSTOWN - The mission is still is not complete, not as far as Freehold stands. But even though the ultimate goal is an overall Group III championship - one without a "Co" in front of it - the Colonials girls soccer team can now enjoy the fact that they are almost home.
     Senior Kim Bauernfiend scored twice and junior Shannon Mayrose added a goal and an assist as Freehold captured the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III title for the second straight season by defeating top-seeded Hightstown, 3-0, on Thursday. The Colonials will now face South Jersey Group III champion Moorestown in the Group III semifinals at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Toms River North.
     "Amazing," said Bauernfiend. "There's no other word to describe it. To do it again, especially in my senior year, it's amazing."
     It was a dominating effort once again for Freehold, which has made a habit of making the state tournament its personal playground. Hightstown came in as the No. 1 seed in the tournament, having already defeated Wall, 3-1, and also with a regular-season win over Steinert, the Central Jersey Group IV champions, during the regular season. The Colonials limited the Rams to six shots and just one quality scoring chance.
     "We've been through this before so we know what it takes," said Amy Flannigan, who had two assists. "We're mentally fit for every game."
     From the moment the game started, it was obvious Freehold was going to have one of its games where it was simply relentless on offense. Although the game was scoreless at the half, the Colonials had 10 shots to just two for the Rams.
     "We had so many opportunities I was surprised we didn't put one in," Bauernfiend said. "Eventually we were going to get one."
      In the 49th minute, Freehold would get the goal that put it up 1-0 and added even more juice to a team that had already titled the field in its favor. Mayrose controlled the ball to the right side of the box and sent a crossing pass towards Bauernfiend. She turned and volleyed a shot with her right foot that beat Tara Miluszewski just inside the right post.
     "I was trying to position myself all day so if anything came my way like that I could just put it right in," Bauernfiend said. "I put all my power behind it."
     Bauernfiend's goal marked just the third time Miluszewski had been scored upon in the tournament. The Rams' tall, athletic goalkeeper had thwarted a couple of Freehold's corner kicks in the first half and also made two saves.
     "We knew this goalie was tall and just a big presence in the goal so we tried to attack from the outside and play balls in just like we did on that goal," Mayrose said. "Practice makes perfect, I guess."
     With the first goal now behind them, the Colonials made it 2-0 in the 57th minute. Flannigan sent a direct kick into the box from just shy of midfield that took a high bounce after a defender mis-timed a header. Mayrose was able to get a touch on the ball with just enough pace to cross the goal line. The officials originally waved the goal off, first signally that Mayrose was offside and then discussing whether the ball crossed the end line before Mayrose touched it. But after a couple minutes of convening, it was ruled a goal.
     "Whenever we go into a game we know once we get that first goal we go," Mayrose said. "The first goal is the hardest for us, but once we get it we have so much confidence."
     In the 72nd minute, Flannigan set up Bauernfiend's second goal off another direct kick, this one a little closer to the goal from about 40 yards out. Bauernfiend was able to settle the ball just outside the six before picking her spot and hitting it for a 3-0 lead. Led by sweeper Alexandra Eagle, Freehold's defense diffused all through balls and cleared away each scoring chance the Rams generated off set pieces. Goalkeeper Ashley Lewis was tested only once, and made a tremendous kick save on Erika Juricic in the 65th minute when the game was still very much in reach at 2-0.
     After making school history last season, Freehold is out to rewrite the record books. That would meaning making it back to the Group III final and winning in outright fashion as opposed to last season's shared championship.
     "They want that ultimate goal," said head coach Elyse Bizzozzaro. "They were in this situation last year so maybe a sectional title isn't as exciting because they definitely want to get rid of that co-champions title."
     In the end, Bauernfiend summarized the Colonials' goal in simple terms.
     "We're not going to be satisfied until we finish this."

Box Score

Freehold 3, Hightstown 0

Freehold      0 3 - 0
Hightstown 0 0 - 0

Scoring: Bauernfiend (Mayrose) 49'; Mayrose (Flannigan) 57'; Bauernfiend (Flannigan) 72'.
Saves: (F) Lewis 3; (H) Miluszewski 5.
Shots: Freehold 18-6.

E-mail: badders@digitalsports.com