NJSIAA girls soccer: Red Bank Catholic drops NPA Final to Immaculate Heart Academy

Sherlon Christie, Asbury Park Press
·3 min read

UNION – The Red Bank Catholic girls soccer team had the blueprint for what success looked like this season with a very young roster.

The Caseys battled through the Shore Conference Class A Central division, they made it to the Shore Conference Tournament Semifinals and they won the NJSIAA Non-Public South A Title with only three seniors on the roster and with only two seniors in the starting lineup.

Those two starting seniors, Cleo Grignard at goalie and Morgan Cupo at forward, carried the Caseys into Sunday’s Non-Public A State Final against Immaculate Heart Academy at Kean University.

Red Bank Mya King can't get there in time as Immaculate Heart goalie Noelle Haskell scoops up the ball. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.
Red Bank Mya King can't get there in time as Immaculate Heart goalie Noelle Haskell scoops up the ball. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.

And despite a 2-0 loss to IHA at Kean University’s Alumni Stadium, Red Bank Catholic put together a solid season and that’s what Red Bank Catholic girls soccer coach Frank Lawrence reminded the players after the game.

Brackets: Shore Conference Girls Soccer: 2021 NJSIAA schedule, results

“They (the two seniors Cleo Grignard and Morgan Cupo) have been phenomenal (players). I can’t say enough about both of them. As sophomores, they won a Shore Conference Championship. As freshmen, they were in the SCT Finals. There have only been three Shore Conference Tournaments in their four years. We got to at least the semifinals (of the SCT) in every single one of the them,” Lawrence said. “And we got here (the Non-Public A State Final) and I feel badly for them because you want them to go off positive. I think they will get there and they will understand it in the long run what a great season they had and what great careers they had here. But in the moment, they obviously feel terrible.”

Red Bank Mya KIng races to ball during first half action. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.
Red Bank Mya KIng races to ball during first half action. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.

The Caseys (14-5-1) had scoring chances against the Blue Eagles (15-6-1) but IHA goalie Noelle Haskell defused those scoring chances with seven saves. Conversely, Red Bank Catholic’s Grignard had five saves.

Game Story: NJSIAA girls soccer: Red Bank Catholic wins section with late goal vs. St. John Vianney

“You have to give a lot of credit to their defense. I think their defense played well and their goaltender especially toward the end made a couple spectacular plays. That is the way the game goes sometimes,” Lawrence said. “I’m not disappointed in our effort. Obviously we want to win but getting to this game is the objective at the beginning of the season. You want to play the last game of the year. And only six teams win the last game of the year.”

Red Bank Catholic Sophia Rcioppi battles with Immaculate Heart Brigid Kearns for ball in first half action. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.
Red Bank Catholic Sophia Rcioppi battles with Immaculate Heart Brigid Kearns for ball in first half action. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.

And on this day, it was IHA walking away with the Non-Public A trophy. The Blue Eagles got on the scoreboard with Lindsay Probst’ goal at 9:23 via a pass from Lindsay Ford and IHA extended that lead to 2-0 after Caitlin Forshay’s goal via a pass from Olivia Salkowsky at 55:12. That 2-0 deficit was too much for Red Bank Catholic to overcome.

Game Story: NJSIAA girls soccer: Shore defeats Point Beach, wins another Central Group 1 Title

“They (IHA) kind of were…almost allowing us to play the ball a little bit in the back. They basically played five in the back to a certain extent. They made it tough,” Lawrence said. “Whenever we had a player get the ball, they were double teaming it hard and we just didn’t move the ball quite quick enough to get those opportunities.”

Red Bank Catholic Devyn Drusjack tumbles over Immactulate Heart goalie Noelle Hakell during late game acton. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.
Red Bank Catholic Devyn Drusjack tumbles over Immactulate Heart goalie Noelle Hakell during late game acton. Immaculate Heart Academy Girls Soccer defeats Red Bank Catholic 2-0 in Non-Public A State Final at Kean University in Union NJ on November 14, 2021.

But the Caseys will return nine starters for the 2022 season where they will be one of the favorites for the Shore Conference Tournament title and to get back to the NJSIAA Non-Public A Final.

National Signing Day 2021-22: Which Shore Conference athletes signed?

“In this moment, they can’t see the totality of this season. They will eventually. And we’ll talk about that especially at our banquet. And I already said it to them,” Lawrence said. “We had a great season. We got to here (to the NJSIAA Non-Public A State Final). That’s where we wanted to be.“

Sherlon Christie is a sports reporter at the Asbury Park Press and has covered sports at the Jersey Shore since 2004. Don't miss any of his coverage by subscribing at https://subscribe.app.com/. You can contact him via e-mail at schristie@gannettnj.com, on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sherlonapp, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sherlonapp and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sherlon_christie

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJSIAA girls soccer: Red Bank Catholic drops Non-Public A Final to IHA