Tartans field hockey advances to semifinals with shutout
By: Justin Feil
From her first year of playing, Sarah Williams was a big hitter on the field hockey field.
"When I was in middle school," said the Stuart Country Day senior, "I started off going to field hockey camp at Stuart and I won the longest drive. I guess I’ve always had the knack. It was seventh grade and I hit it the length of the field. I also play ice hockey, so I guess I have a little hand-eye coordination."
Williams’ big hit was put to use first on offense in middle school, but by the time she stepped into the starting lineup for the Tartans varsity as a sophomore, she was using her powerful drives on the defensive end. She broke into Stuart’s lineup first as a midfielder and moved to a back after an injury to another player. By the end of her first full year of varsity she was at center back, where she’s been ever since.
This year, she’s been part of a dominating defense that made Lawrence its 11th shutout victim of the season, and sixth in a row, in a 4-0 win in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals Tuesday.
"She’s a three-year varsity player," said Stuart head coach Missy Bruvick, whose team was scheduled to face Hightstown in the MCT semifinals Thursday. "She’s been great. She played center back last year. Sophomore year, she was sometimes a mid, sometimes a low back.
"She has beautiful follow-through on hits. She reads the field so well. She made a bunch of interceptions (Tuesday). She has the ability to read plays and her beautiful long hits are a key to our transition."
Over the course of the season, Williams has gotten more in tune with the Tartan players surrounding her. Mary Jane Sweetland is on her left, Ami Patel is behind her and Liz Colicchio is to her right. Christa Goeke is the Stuart goalkeeper.
"We have a lot going for us," Williams said. "Being in the middle, I know how the other people work. I feel very secure. I know where everyone is and how they are as players.
"We came together at the beginning of the year. Ami has been behind me the last couple years. She’s a senior. We’ve been playing together. Liz is a sophomore. She got some playing time last year. She was actually more of midfield player until Bru’ moved her back to switch with Margaret (Henry). It’s interesting. We all came from different positions. We all molded together."
The unity has shown all season, and now there’s no better time for it. With a win Thursday, Stuart would be 15-2 and headed for the 10 a.m. MCT championship Saturday at Mercer County Community College, where they could face a rematch with defending champion Allentown. Stuart is the No. 2; Allentown is the top seed. And following the MCT, Stuart will turn its attention to the Prep B state tournament where it is the top seed.
"They’re both really big because we want to do it all," Williams said. "Our team is clicking so well that we want to do well in both. We’re equally focused. Preps are split this year, so there aren’t as many teams. We know the county will be a challenge.
"We’re up for playing whoever makes it to the tournament final. We’re more excited if we play someone we already did because know their style. We’re up for whoever wants to play us."
The Tartans were the lone Packet-area team to advance to the semifinals Tuesday. Fifth-seeded West Windsor-Plainsboro North lost to fourth-seeded Hopewell Valley, 2-0. The Knights were scheduled to face Steinert in a consolation game Thursday before turning their attention to the state tournament.
No. 14 seed WW-P South saw its Cinderella story end with a 3-0 loss at sixth-seeded Hightstown. The Pirates had upset No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday.
"It was the kind of win that makes the season for you," said WW-P South head coach Amy Bruschi. "I wish we would have had a little time to come down from it and put the next game into perspective."
And after such a big upset, it was hard to regain all the energy. Hightstown, on the other hand, used the Pirates’ win over Notre Dame as warning not to overlook them.
"Hightstown played very well," Bruschi said. "They’re a very good team. Their forwards, they have great stick skills and see the field well. It was a combination of Hightstown playing a great game, and our girls, though they played well, it wasn’t their best game.
"It’s disappointing, but the girls are happy with their performance in counties. There was a little letdown, but Hightstown played a great game."
Stuart received a bye in the MCT first round, and after their game with Notre Dame last week was cancelled it meant the Tartans had six days between games. There was a chance for a letdown after some of their momentum was erased but there was no rust evident Tuesday.
"We played well," Bruvick said. "We haven’t played since last week against (West Windsor-Plainsboro) North. It was a long layoff. We practiced over the weekend. I think the kids are excited about the tournament. We had 24 shots on goal, which I was really pleased about.
"The good thing was I don’t think we missed much of a beat despite having a week off. We were still aggressive, going to goal and finishing plays."
Stuart hopes that strong play continues as the MCT final comes closer. For Williams, it’s an opportunity to make up for missing last year due to illness. She missed a chance to play for the MCT crown in her sister Carly’s senior season last year, and before she looks to continue playing in college she’d like to be able to send her sister an update that includes in it a championship.
Certainly, there’s a better chance for a title with Sarah Williams on the field than with her out, and the Stuart field hockey team is counting on her. After all, the Tartans need those big hits.