Champion Brick Memorial Girls Soccer Team Honored

BRICK, NJ — The Brick Memorial girls soccer team was honored Tuesday for its 2023 season that finished with a state sectional championship in November.

The team, which finished the fall with 15 wins, 5 losses and a tie, won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 championship with a 2-1 victory over Middletown South on Nov. 6.

The victory over Middletown South also led to the NJSIAA honoring junior goalkeeper Giselle Lizardi with a sportsmanship appreciation for her actions after the game.

Brick Memorial defeated Middletown South on a goal by Chloe Gellici in the second overtime, a reverse of the outcome between the teams in 2022.

Lizardi was on the losing end of the equation in the 2022 game when Middletown South won 3-2 in the second overtime. A sophomore at the time, Lizardi was the backup goalkeeper and had to take the field when the starter was injured late in the second half of that game.

When Brick Memorial scored its winning goal in the 2023 rematch, Lizardi ran from her goal to the far end to join her celebrating teammates.

As she reached her team, Lizardi saw the Middletown South goalkeeper on the ground, crying, as a result of the loss, and went to comfort her counterpart. The action was caught on video that was shared on social media.

"I knew how she felt because I felt the same way last year after we lost," Lizardi said after receiving the sportsmanship honor. "Someone on the livestream saw it and posted it on Twitter."

Lizardi said the Middletown South goalkeeper wouldn't speak.

"I just sat there with her but I wouldn’t get up until she got up," she said.

"I saw it on Twitter but I didn't think much of it," Lizardi said. "It’s really not that big of a deal. If I see someone upset I can’t ignore them. I just knew there would be a later time to celebrate."

There was a lot for the team to celebrate as the sectional championship was the first for Brick Memorial in 15 years, and its seventh in team history.

Mayor Lisa Crate presented the proclamation to head coach Billy Caruso at the council meeting and each member of the team received a certificate of commendation.

The team members are Lizardi, Vic Hiotis, Lexi Caruso, Emily Cranston, Makayla Doheny, Chloe Gellici, Kylie McCullough, Ashlee Schlagenhaft, Skyler Schlagenhaft, Maggie Allen, Makayla Siciliano, Reese Keane, Mia Caruso, Gabby Hernandez, Lila Hopkins, Brooke DeAlmeida, Jordan McCullough and Sydney Mihalko.

Caruso was assisted by John Prani, Stephanie Butala, Crystal Badders, Jess Fuccello, Rich Kijak, Patrick Schlagenhaft and Gunther Ulbrich.

Wednesday, March 13, was proclaimed Brick Memorial High School Girls Soccer Team Day.