Hlatky’s Penalty Kick leads Neptune into Central Jersey Group 3 Semifinal

BRICK – In a one-and-done format, anything can happen. Neptune, who entered the state tournament with a 7-10-2 record and qualified for the playoffs as a 13-seed, continued their Cinderella run in the Central Jersey Group 3 playoffs by defeating 12-seeded Brick Memorial in double overtime, 1-0, and advancing to the sectional semifinal.

The game’s lone goal came with 8:40 left in the second overtime when freshman Philippa Hlatky drew a foul in the box and was able to bury the penalty shot in the bottom right corner of the goal beating a diving Victoria Hiotis. 

“I almost started crying because so much was happening,” Hlatky said. “I remember my mom told me in the car you got to take it right as the whistle blows. I got into a really composed state and I focused on what we were practicing, go left bottom corner and stay where I know.” 

This has been a much improved season for the Scarlet Fliers, who went from a struggling 3-11 record last season to 9-10-2 this season. Neptune has competed with every team that they have played, even in defeat. Not a single game was ended due to the NJSIAA’s new mercy rule compared to last year when four games would have ended early. 

“It shows them that it is possible,” Neptune head coach Nicholas Paratore said. “I think they have received such little success for so long that they lose sight of the fact that it is a possibility. They can go out there and get it just like anybody else. Seeing is believing and it is going to be huge for the future. Our expectations will rise of course and they just need to feel the success to know it is out there.”

What made this win even more special is the Scarlet Fliers were without their two captains, Ellie Gomez and Stella Curto who were both out due to injury. Gomez leads the team with 12 goals this season, which is more than double from last year’s leading scorer Kadidja Braxton. 

“Having two of our captains out of the game puts more pressure on everyone,” Hlatky said. “I looked at it as time to prove to everyone that it is not just those players. I just wanted to do it for Ellie and Stella because I know they wanted it just as bad.”

Both teams had their chances to score in regulation, forcing the defenses to work hard and the goalies to make difficult saves. Brick Memorial had one of their best chances with 13 minutes left in the first half. 

The ball was played into the box and Neptune goalkeeper Meghan Rogers attempted to grab the ball, but it kept getting kicked around for several seconds until Rogers was finally able to grab it while on the ground.

Rogers has played an important role in Neptune’s success this season. She finished the game with 12 saves and earned her sixth shutout of the season for the Scarlet Fliers. In the first-round upset over four-seed Burlington Township, Rogers made nine saves in the 2-1 victory. 

“You can hear her (Rogers) confidence grow,” said Paratore about his freshman goalie. “These kids start out and they are silent. They are timid and as the season has progressed she has gotten louder and louder back there. She is coming off the field telling us what she sees and tells us different adjustments we can make on corners and things like that. I could not ask more from a freshman goalie.”

Neptune was forced to go deeper on their roster then they normally do because of their injuries which led to a very young team on the field. Four freshmen started in the game for the Scarlet Fliers, gaining experience that will help them in the next three seasons. 

“We have a young team,” Paratore said. “A lot of freshmen with a lot of new experience. They have had a lot of tests to overcome this year. We had some girls playing today that got very few minutes throughout the season. We had one of our freshmen out there, Cheyenne Daye, play 50 minutes today and she has not seen a whole lot of the field this season. She stepped up and did a great job today.”

There has been a change in Neptune this season, on and off the field. Communicating, chemistry and passion are all visible on the field, which are important factors in building a program from the ground up. 

“Before the season we do team bonding,” Rogers said. “The most important thing is connection on the field. Talking to one another and liking one another. This run is going to help us so much in the future. We have never won one state game let alone two since what, the 1990’s? It has been a very long time.”

Neptune will return to action on Wednesday against top-seeded Northern Burlington. They will viewed as significant underdogs, but with some belief, confidence, and execution, anything is possible.