St. John Vianney Edges Trinity Hall in Double Overtime, Advances to First Sectional Final Since 2021

HOLMDEL — For 95 minutes, St. John Vianney and Trinity Hall battled through a scoreless showdown. With a trip to the sectional championship on the line, the Lancers finally broke through in the second overtime, scoring the game’s only goal to secure a dramatic 1-0 victory over the fourth-seeded Monarchs in the South Jersey Non-Public A semifinals.

The victory sends top-seeded St. John Vianney (16-5-1) to its first sectional final since 2021, where the Lancers will host third-seeded Paul VI on Thursday. The Eagles, the defending Non-Public A state champions and No. 1 team in the NJ Advance Media rankings, advanced with a 2-0 semifinal victory over Immaculata.

After neither team could find the back of the net through regulation and the first overtime, junior Lily Fitzpatrick delivered the decisive goal in the 95th minute. Fitzpatrick sent a cross toward the far post that caught Trinity Hall goalkeeper O’Neal Hile off guard. Hile was unable to handle the ball cleanly, allowing it to find the back of the net and setting off a celebration for the Lancers.

“It was huge for Lily to get that goal,” SJV head coach Heather Bailey said. “She is one of our smarter players with the ball at her feet. She has an amazing ability to see the field and is a big part of when we are trying to get forward. I love the fact she had the space and took it. The pressure was coming in that second overtime and when you apply enough pressure then sometimes the ball goes your way.”

While Fitzpatrick provided the winning goal, junior goalkeeper Lillie Lazzari made sure the Lancers had an opportunity to reach overtime with a standout performance against the Shore Conference Tournament champions.

Lazzari delivered one of her biggest saves just 16 minutes into the contest when Trinity Hall unleashed a shot from outside the penalty area. She timed her jump perfectly, getting a hand on the ball and directing it over the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.

“She had to wait her turn last year with two seniors in front of her,” Bailey said. “That did not phase her and she just put in a ton of work. She got hurt during the summer and had to sit out a couple games because it flared up, but I am so comfortable with her back there. When you need a big save, she can make it.”

Trinity Hall generated several scoring opportunities during a competitive first half, but St. John Vianney gradually seized control after halftime. Playing with the wind at their backs, the Lancers increased their pressure, won more challenges in the midfield, and began pushing their defensive line forward to keep the Monarchs pinned in their own end.

That momentum carried into overtime, when SJV consistently beat Trinity Hall to loose balls and maintained possession in the attacking third before Fitzpatrick finally broke the deadlock.

“We gave them the advantage in the first half so in the second half I wanted to take advantage of the wind,” Bailey said. “I told them when we went out there, there can not be no what ifs. We have to leave everything out there and empty the tank.”

Despite SJV’s growing advantage, Trinity Hall nearly took the lead in the closing minutes of regulation. With just under five minutes remaining, sophomore Bette Kane found herself with an open look from approximately eight yards out, but her attempt sailed wide of the goal.

The missed opportunity proved costly as the Lancers continued to build pressure and eventually found the winner in the second overtime.

“These girls have such big hearts,” Bailey said. “We have the talent, but it is the hard work they put in. Our practices during the season are tough and it is to get us ready for these situations. Going against Trinity Hall who are the Shore Conference champs for a good reason. I knew it was going to be this type of game, but these girls deserve all the credit.”

St. John Vianney’s defensive effort was equally important in limiting a dangerous Trinity Hall attack. Senior center back Maya Pflug anchored a back line that consistently disrupted the Monarchs’ attempts to penetrate the penalty area, while Delilah Joyce provided another steady presence in the defensive midfield.

“We are a team that has so much chemistry, which helps us a lot,” Lazzari said. “The backline has been strong all season. Maya Pflug has been a rock back there and Delilah Joyce in the six.”

Another key contributor was junior Giulianna Goldberg, whose versatility allowed Bailey to utilize her in multiple roles throughout the contest.

Goldberg split time between defense and attack, helping protect the Lancers’ back line while using her speed and physicality to challenge Trinity Hall’s defenders. She created one of SJV’s best late scoring opportunities with 3:15 remaining in regulation, sending a dangerous cross into the penalty area that the Lancers were unable to convert.

Although Goldberg did not register a goal or assist, her ability to impact the game at both ends of the field was an important part of SJV’s performance.

“She (Goldberg) doesn’t even realize how talented she is,” Bailey said. “She is one of those girls that when you watch her you say “oh my goodness”, but she does not view herself that way. She is so versatile for us. She has that top end speed, plays smart, and physical. She has done this all season and is a big reason we have had our success this season.”

The victory was another example of how St. John Vianney’s challenging regular-season schedule has prepared the Lancers for postseason competition.

Bailey assembled a schedule that tested her team against several of the Shore Conference’s top programs and quality opponents from around the state. Among the highlights was a victory over Gill St. Bernard’s, which was ranked No. 9 in the NJ Advance Media statewide rankings.

Those demanding matchups helped prepare SJV for the intensity of a sectional semifinal against a Trinity Hall team that captured its first Shore Conference Tournament championship earlier this season.

“We have worked so hard since June, from the summer to now,” Fitzpatrick said. “I knew this team was very special. We all knew we were not going home today. We are finishing this day and finding the back of the net. I just feel this team worked so hard to get where we are.”

Now the Lancers face their biggest challenge of the season against a Paul VI program looking to defend its sectional and state championships.

The Eagles completed an undefeated season in 2025, including a 3-0 victory over Trinity Hall in the South Jersey Non-Public A final. With Paul VI entering Thursday’s championship as the state’s top-ranked team, SJV will need another strong defensive performance and timely scoring to capture its first sectional title since 2021.

For Fitzpatrick and her teammates, the opportunity to compete for a championship is the culmination of months of preparation, and they have no intention of seeing their season end on Thursday.

“It is going to take a lot for us,” said Fitzpatrick about playing Paul VI. “We are here and we are ready and all of us want this 100%. We are not ready to go home and we are looking to win. This team does not give up and we work very hard.”