Streaking Tartans set for states
By: Justin Feil
HIGHTSTOWN It was just what the Stuart field hockey team talks about, what it practices and what won it another game Wednesday.
Peddie had its fair share of good shots and good looks and was controlling action in the Stuart end when the Tartans regained possession and in a whoosh were down the field. Tracy Statter crossed the ball from the right side, it hit a Peddie defender’s stick before Pam Long fired the free ball into the cage from the left side with 12:04 to play.
"The whole forward line brought it down together," said the junior. "It was sent into the center by Tracy Statter and I got to it.
"We talk about positioning in practice," she added. "It could go either way, down the right side or the left side. We like to bring it down the right side. If we take it down the left side, that’s the defense’s strong side usually. We just practice back and forth and work on who’s finishing. Just getting that last touch on the ball is what we work on. We just work so well together."
With its typical strong defensive effort highlighted by Hannah Murnen’s seventh shutout of the season, Long’s third goal of the season was enough to give Stuart a 1-0 win, it’s fifth in a row. All five have come by shutout, including Monday’s 5-0 blanking of Pennington in which Long scored her first two goals of the year.
"She just gives 100 plus percent every minute she’s on the field," said Stuart head coach Missy Bruvick. "She plays aggressively. She’s always looking to help out, looking to pass or come back and help. She’s physically strong and tenacious. She plays injured. She makes things happen. She did today."
Long shrugged off a wrist injury she suffered in practice to provide the biggest offensive spark for the Tartans, who next play at Hopewell Valley on Saturday and then face Moorestown on Tuesday before beginning the state tournament the next week. After falling to Hun in last year’s prep tournament final, the Tartans have taken steps to put themselves in position for their second title in three years.
While it did lose to Lawrenceville early in the season, Stuart defeated Hun last week, 1-0, to put itself right back in a favorite’s role. The win over Peddie kept the momentum going.
"They came on the first half and started the game so intensely," said Long, who is a Pennington resident. "We just had to match that. We had to keep that up until 45 minutes (when she scored). We talk a lot about being intense all the time. We are so mentally and physically ready for states.
"We just have this unification. We want to win every year. We want to keep what we’ve had. We feel like we’re a new team and everyone else is new. We want to use the same program that got us there and make a legacy."
So far it’s worked though there are new contributors for Stuart. It hasn’t been hard for Bruvick to sell the fast-moving style that she favors. It’s worked well for the Tartans as proven Wednesday. Though Peddie dominated the corners statistically, 8-1, it was Stuart that utilized its quick strike attack for its best chances, and eventually, the game-winner.
"We had to focus more on moving the ball down the field and I like our transition game," Bruvick said. "They all pass the ball well. We did a better job in the midfield of backing each other up. They’re playing better. The Hun game was a good confidence builder. We haven’t been going up and down. We’ve been real steady and we need to keep that up."
Stuart’s play Wednesday could have been a clinic on how to advance the ball for a good scoring chance.
"The defense was absolutely amazing making that transition," Long said. "Then it came off the right top. It deflected off one of their sticks and dropped down. The goalie was off her angle so I got it by. Just getting the last touch on the ball is what we practice all the time."

