The Freedom had an outstanding weekend of soccer in finishing 2nd in the 2008 MAPS/MSSL preseason tournament. 8 teams were divided into two groups of 4. The team posted a record of 1 win and 2 draws in winning our group. Freedom opened the day by beating Buckingham United Bobcats 3-2, then drew 0-0 with the TRSA Rage. On Sunday, the team put on a fantastic performance in controlling a match with West Windsor Plainsboro Xtreme. Although the team did not score, the soccer on display was top notch.
By winning our group, we were the top seed coming out of group play. In the semi-finals, Freedom beat the Jersey Knights 1-0. Reaching the final came at a price: alrerady down one player coming into the tournament, the team suffered an unprecedented rash of injuries that depleted our squad. Going into the final match, we only had a few kids not carrying injuries. The Final was played against Wall Lightning. Conditions were not soccer-friendly. There was a tremendous wind blowing directly into one of the goals. In the first half, with the wind at our backs, we scored on a long range shot to go into the break up 1-0. In the second half, against the wind, the team held out until the 18th minute when Wall scored on a scramble in front of the goal. The score remained at 1-1 into the dying moments of regulation. To thier credit, Wall was relentless in the pressure applied. Tired legs and injured bodies could not clear our defensive lines into the wind and on the final kick of the game, and with OT looming, Wall broke the deadlock with a pretty strike from 18 yards.
Onward and upward, the Freedom team is headed!
