The family photo albums are filling up with some great memories for Carly and Allie Serlenga.
Two years apart in age, the Serlenga sisters experienced one of the most memorable soccer seasons at Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in recent history.
The Crusaders defied the odds by winning three upset victories in the South Jersey Coaches Association Tournament before surging to the state sectional final in a postseason run. The Serlengas were able to do it together, like just about everything else in their lives.
“We’re so close because we do soccer and basketball together and go to school together,” said Carly, a senior. “We’re never not together. Then we train and go to the gym together and we’re always talking. I think that’s why there’s no jealousy between us. We’re just so close and we want each other to succeed.”
Their personalities are similar. Their roles on the soccer field are very different. Carly is a staunch defender who wins just about every 50-50 ball, while Allie, a sophomore, has an unrivaled mix of speed and power that helps her create goals for herself and her teammates. They play opposite ends of the field; they meet midway to celebrate often.
“It’s really fun playing with her,” Allie said. “It was really amazing sharing all these moments together.”
Allie’s breakout season consisted of a team-leading 20 goals and nine assists as Eustace coiled a 14-5-3 record and won the Olympic Conference National Division with a 10-0 league record. It was the first major step of a wild season for the Crusaders.
“This is just a fun team,” Bishop Eustace coach Patrick Hitschler said. “The amount of games we won in overtime or penalty shots or with two minutes left was crazy. It was amazing this year.”
The Crusaders caught fire as the 13-seed in the 16-team South Jersey Coaches Tournament, defeating powerhouses Cherokee, Shawnee and Eastern before falling in the championship game to Ocean City. Their first bit of magic came against Cherokee, down 2-0 early.
“We’re the queens of comeback,” Allie said with a laugh. “That was probably my favorite game.”
Allie scored twice that game with Carly assisting on her sister’s second goal in a 4-2 comeback win. The Crusaders moved on to defeat Shawnee in penalty kicks after 100 minutes of scoreless soccer. They blanked Eastern, 3-0, and gave Ocean City all it could handle in the championship game before falling 3-2. The Crusaders rallied to tie the game twice before allowing the deciding goal with under five minutes remaining.
“I really think it’s because we’re such a close group,” Carly said. “It’s a small team and we’ve been able to bond and connect, and no one really expected us to be anything this year.”
Except for the Crusaders themselves.
They defeated Moorestown Friends and Holy Cross Academy in the playoffs to face highly touted Rutgers Prep in the South Jersey Non-Public B final Nov. 12. The Crusaders fell behind 4-1, but the cardiac kids weren’t about to go quietly.
“I was just thinking to myself that we can’t lose like this, by so much,” Allie said “Once we got the second goal, I knew we were coming back. This wasn’t going to be the end.”
Freshman Mia Abbey scored three goals as Bishop Eustace rallied to erase the three-goal deficit. But a late goal by Rutgers Prep was the final dagger in the season, as Eustace fell 5-4. And just like that, the Serlengas had played their final game of soccer together.
“I’m so sad this is our last game together,” Carli said. “We have sister synergy. That’s what everyone says.”
They’ll find each other on the basketball court together this winter for the Crusaders, as the two also play opposite roles on the hardwood. Allie is a reliable rebounder in the paint while Carly is a sharpshooter from the outside. Roles are reversed as Carly is the bigger scorer, but either way, she just likes seeing her younger sister succeed.
“It was awesome seeing Allie get so much recognition,” Carly said. “I’m so proud of her.”
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