enjoying finest season
At 10-4-1 Rebels
enjoying finest season
By tim morris
Staff Writer
Howell High School’s field hockey team has already achieved more on the playing field this year than any other team in school history. However, the Rebels aren’t ready to close the book on the 2002 season.
"We want to keep on rolling," said coach Julie Hoebee.
Next up for Howell is the state playoffs, which begin Friday. The Rebels are seeded No. 6 in Central Jersey Group IV and will travel to Toms River to take on No. 3 TR North.
The Rebels made school history on Oct. 23 when they beat Red Bank Regional, 2-1, for their first-ever Shore Conference Tournament victory. Although powerhouse Middletown North nipped Howell 1-0 in the second round of the SCT, that first-ever win increased the team’s confidence and appetite for more.
"The girls are very focused," said Hoebee. "They are looking forward to the states. They want to surpass what other teams have done."
That would mean winning a quarterfinal match. The Rebels had won state playoff games before, but have not gone beyond the quarters.
Howell’s success has even caught Hoebee off-guard.
"It does surprise me," she said. "I thought the kids would do very well but not this. They’ve come up with some big games, beating Ocean and Red Bank and tying Manasquan."
As big as the win over Ocean, an established winning program, and the tie with Manasquan, a perennial Top 10 team, were, Howell’s finest hour this year was against Red Bank Regional where the Rebels rallied to beat the Bucs with two second-half goals. Natalie Vadas deposited the equalizer 11 minutes into the second half. Five minutes later, Lynsey Treadwell converted a set-up from Jessica Hennessy for the game-winner. Goalie Kristin Hullings made that one-goal lead stand up.
It all starts from the cage forward for the Rebels with keeper Hullings providing the team with its security blanket. Her seven shutouts put her among the Shore’s best, but she is far more than statistics.
"Hullings anchors the defense," noted Hoebee. "She stops everything in goal, and the kids have confidence in her. They will take more chances knowing she is back there."
Taking more chances has resulted in a more aggressive Howell offense, that has translated into more production.
Vadas leads the team in scoring with seven goals, but she is followed closely by Danielle Steakin and Treadwell with six each. The scoring has been very balanced with Keri Schultz also coming through.
Howell’s offense has been generated by its outstanding midfielders Hennessy and Devin Barnett. They are two-way players who can get back on defense and trigger the offense with their up-field runs and ability to find the open player.
Lauren Rutledge, Sara Ostroski and Sara Crist have been doing yeoman work in front of Hullings, along with Barnett who plays at the top of Howell’s diamond defense.
Howell lifted its record to 10-4-1 last week with a 6-0 win over Keyport. All of Howell’s top scorers contributed here with Steakin getting two and Hennessy, Treadwell, Vadas and Schultz each scoring once.