The result carries extra weight after an uneven regular season. The report says Freehold Township finished with six wins, six defeats and two draws, having lost three of its first four games.
That inconsistency could have undermined the team’s confidence. Instead, Patterson believes the experimentation helped the squad find a clearer identity before the knockout stage.
The victory also avenged a 2-1 regular-season defeat by Howell, according to the report. Freehold Township had eliminated the same opponent in last year’s playoffs after a penalty shootout, adding another layer to the rivalry.
Olivia Ramirez reportedly put Freehold Township ahead after connecting with a pass from Brielle Gorton, before Isabella Farinick brought Howell level.
Notaro then produced the moment that changed the tie. The report says she received the ball with her back to goal, turned under pressure and finished beyond the goalkeeper.
“Eu queria a bola, o time queria a vitória e precisávamos entregar isso. Girei, encontrei um espaço e sabia que tinha de chutar forte. Quando a bola entrou, a dinâmica do jogo mudou”, Notaro said.
Her experience has become especially important for a predominantly young squad, while Patterson has also highlighted the contribution of emerging players. Kayleigh Moore had scored in the team’s previous match.
Point Pleasant Borough is reportedly the No. 3 seed and beat Freehold Township 4-0 earlier this month. That makes Saturday’s quarterfinal a demanding test of whether this late surge is a genuine transformation or simply one strong night.
The next chapter will show whether Freehold Township’s new-found shape and confidence can carry it closer to a fifth tournament title.