Audubon girls overcome injuries in record-setting soccer season

This has been a season of great accomplishments for the Audubon girls' soccer team, one that has included a school record for wins, the 200th career victory for its head coach and the first sectional title in the 16-year history of the program.

One has to wonder: What would have happened if the Green Wave had better health?

Despite various injuries along the way, Audubon (19-3) will meet Shore (17-5-1) Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the state Group 1 semifinal at Eastern.

One Audubon player who has overcome adversity is Maria Granato, who scored the winning goal with 12 seconds left in a 1-0 South Jersey Group 1 championship win over Haddon Heights.

Granato missed a few weeks with a concussion and didn't return until Audubon's 3-1 semifinal win over Gateway.

Versatile senior Jenna Rizzo missed the first 11 games of the season because of injury. Junior Chelsea Fadio, who has 25 goals and 20 assists and already owns the school record with 77 goals, was sidelined for two games earlier this season with an injury.

(Fadio's high-scoring counterpart, Samantha McDonough of Shore, leads the Blue Devils with 22 goals and 18 assists.)

A critical injury came in Audubon's 5-0 South Jersey Group 1 quarterfinal win over Woodstown when sophomore midfielder Molly Furlong suffered a season-ending foot injury. Furlong, an outstanding distributor and scorer, provided 14 goals and 14 assists.

"We wouldn't be here without her," said coach Bill Scully, who has 209 career wins at Audubon.

Despite all the injuries, Scully admires the Green Wave's resilience.

"We are not a team like [South Jersey Group 4 champion] Lenape in terms of depth, and the way we have played despite injury has been a great credit to the youngsters," Scully said. "This group has tons of heart."

It also has some incredible talent. Without Furlong, senior midfielder Erica Lord, who has eight goals, has taken an even greater offensive role.

Led by keeper Grace Borden, the Green Wave have recorded nine shutouts.

And of course, Scully is certainly happy to have Granato back.

"She has great speed and can be a difference maker," Scully said.