Brooke Segura's four goals all Kellenberg girls soccer needs in win over St. John the Baptist
Brooke Segura of Kellenberg celebrates her goal in the second half of a CHSAA girls soccer game against host St. John the Baptist on Monday. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
Brooke Segura didn’t need much time to take over Monday afternoon, and it quickly turned into the most productive game of her varsity career.
The Kellenberg senior forward recorded a hat trick in the first nine minutes.
Segura scored all four goals and led visiting Kellenberg past St. John the Baptist, 4-0, in NSCHSAA girls soccer.
“It was definitely surreal,” Segura said. “I wasn’t expecting it going into the game. I was hoping I had a goal, but getting a third felt surreal. I was really happy. My teammates kept sending me the ball, so I have to thank them.”
The Segura show started as fans were still finding their seats. She tallied her first goal in the second minute for the Firebirds.
“Today was just her day,” Kellenberg coach Suzanne Sluka said. “[Brooke’s] speed definitely took advantage of the back line, and she placed the ball beautifully four different times.”
Just over four minutes later, Abigail Woodruff sprinted toward the net and unleashed a shot that was initially stopped by Cougars goalkeeper Sara Macomber, but Segura fired one home on the rebound opportunity.
Less than a minute later, Segura took a shot while falling to the ground and buried it in the bottom-left corner to complete the hat trick.
Kellenberg lost to defending Nassau Class A champion Seaford, 2-1, on Saturday night. The Firebirds bounced back nicely on Monday and now turn their attention to some tough league opponents, with Sacred Heart on Friday and St. Anthony’s next Monday.
“The win is definitely good for our momentum as a team,” junior midfielder Olivia Gordon said. “I’m pretty pumped for the games coming up. I think we look great.”
St. John the Baptist is a young group, and it was led by Macomber, a sophomore. “She’s excellent,” St. John the Baptist coach Aidan Keenan said. “She started as a freshman last year. . . . She’s just getting better and better, and she really kept us in it.”
Segura added another goal in the second half to put her at four.
She scored the winning goal in last year’s semifinal win over St. Dominic a school she previously attended, so Monday’s performance may not be No. 1 on her list. But a varsity career-high four goals, doubling her previous best, certainly ranks high.
“Last year, the semifinal, that was the top one, but this is definitely up there,” Segura said with a laugh.
