BY VIN RAPOLLA
Staff Writer
Both the second-seeded Ocean Township and third-seeded Shore Regional field hockey teams knew what to expect heading into yesterday’s Shore Conference Tournament semifinal game.
A battle.
Both teams have put together stellar seasons this fall, with Ocean playing to a 16-0-1 mark, and Shore boasting an undefeated 15-0-1 record heading into the anticipated match-up in Ocean.
But what made the game so intriguing was the fact that the teams were not familiar with each other coming into the game.
“We really haven’t seen a team like Ocean. It’s going to be guaranteed a tough match,” said Shore’s legendary head coach Nancy Williams.
Both teams came into the game with relatively young teams, as Shore returns only three starters, while Ocean is playing this season with a total of five players who have seen varsity time in the past.
But those three Shore players have one distinct advantage over everyone else — they’ve been down this road before; they’ve been part of the last three SCT championship teams. Shore has won five straight titles overall.
Leading Shore into this critical semifinal round was its trio of senior captains — forward Enza Mazza, center back Julie Vaccarelli and midfielder Michelle Polizois — who, Williams said, have propelled Shore to its unbeaten season thus far.
“They’ve done a good job with this young team,” said the coach. “They’ve been good leaders on and off the field.”
The success of the Blue Devil team can also be attributed to its solid defensive play, along with steady goalkeeping. Junior goalie Shannon McGrath and defenders Katie Koenig, Kathy Ryeson and Lauren Woodie have all been key to the team’s 10 shutouts.
“Shutouts are a combination of good defense and goalkeeping,” said Williams. “The defense has done a nice job limiting shots.”
At midfield, the Blue Devil team has seen consistent, smart play from sophomores Melissa Murphy and Elizabeth Ferraro.
“Both players are good hustlers and very smart. They understand the game and know what’s going on, on both sides of the ball,” said Williams.
Up front are a pair of senior forwards — Nicole Lubcher and Shelley Liptak — a pair who have shown great hustle and teamwork throughout the year.
“Both are great hustlers who give it their best,” said Williams.
In Shore’s SCT quarterfinal win on Monday over Pinelands, the Blue Devils had just one goal at the half (a Mazza tally at the 10-minute mark), but erupted for four goals in the second half en route to a 6-1 win over sixth-seeded Pinelands. Shore’s other goals came from Vaccarelli (2), Vogel, Liptak and Mahon.
With a shot at the Shore Conference championship on the line, and an upcoming run in the state playoffs looming, coach Williams entered yesterday’s game well aware of what her team needed to do to be successful the rest of the way.
“We’ll just have to take it one game at a time. Many girls on the team have not been in this situation,” she said. “Ocean is a big school with a lot of good athletes to choose from. Our seniors have to step up, set the tone and pick up the pace if we have to. It’s gonna be tough.”
As for Ocean Township, the Spartans feature just five returning seniors in defenders Kim Brown and Jill Boys, along with midfielder Lauren Weil and forwards Aileen Bosmans and Julia Garofalo. The seniors have lived up to their captain status.
“These captains really stabilize everything,” said head coach Donna DeNoble. “They are leaders on and off the field.”
The team has also gained much of its success with a strong core of sophomores, including center midfielder Norah Bosmans, forward and leading scorer Katie Tribino, and forwards Becky Rant, Carinne Raczek and Jenna Gelatro. This group of youngsters has stepped up and has proved to the Shore and their team that they are worthy of playing for a Shore Conference championship.
“They’ve all been phenomenal,” said DeNoble. “They’re one of the youngest teams in the league with this good of a record.”
Like Shore, the Ocean team also attributes most of its victories to its solid defense and steady goalkeeping. Sophomore goalie Erin Conway and the defense has managed a total of eight shutouts on the season.
“They’re having such a great season,” said the coach. “They have great chemistry, and have managed to stop other teams.”
On Monday, the Spartans found themselves trailing Freehold Borough 1-0 at half-time of their quarterfinal match, but responded with four unanswered goals in the second half to advance. Tribino notched the Spartans’ first goal on a deflection of Norah Bosmans’ shot, with Rant, Alex DeVito and Aileen Bosmans finishing the scoring from there.
Heading into yesterday’s game with Shore, DeNoble was preaching the same things she has all season, and said the defense would be especially tested — both yesterday and in the upcoming state tournament.
“If we can maintain our game plan and our game, we should have success,” she said. “We have to shut down their key players.
“It’s been a great season so far. We’ve seen great chemistry between the sophomores and seniors. We knew we were going to be good, but never predicted this.”