Middletown, Lincroft

Nov 29, 2022

Middletown South Girls’ Soccer Takes State Title

By Les Pierce

Makayla Jaffe (#8)

The Middletown South girls’ soccer team took the field in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 final seeking their third sectional title since 2017. The Eagles succeeded via an arduous double overtime 3-2 win over Brick Memorial.

South’s Makayla Jaffe scored the first goal of the contest with 5:40 left in the first half. She beat out two defenders and punched the ball in on a slide. The 1-0 tally held up at for the entire first half.  

The Mustangs knotted the score at 10 minutes into the second half. Then Middletown went ahead 2-1 when freshman Bea Tinoco found the net with 9:02 remaining.

Brick tied the game once again, with 5:34 left in regulation. The 2-2 score stood until the buzzer sounded.  

Both defenses took over in the first overtime period and into the second. Finally, Jaffe scored the winning goal on a free kick by fellow senior Abby Doherty. The South bench spontaneously ran out to the field in celebration.

The third seeded Eagles reached the final via an upset 4-2 victory over No. 2 Allentown on four goals by Tinoco.