BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Above, New Egypt’s Lisa Malloy puts herself in position to score the Warriors’ third goal during their 4-1 victory over Keyport in the CJGroup Ichampionship game in New Egypt on Nov. 11. At left, Shannon Houston winds up before setting up the team’s second goal of the game. PLUMSTED — Sometimes it takes a good old-fashioned talking to in order to get in gear.
That was the case last Thursday as the New Egypt High School field hockey team clashed with visiting Keyport in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I championship game.
Following a few words of encouragement during the intermission by coach Patti Nicholson, the Lady Warriors scored four unanswered goals to cruise to their second consecutive Group I title with a resounding 4-1 victory over Keyport.
“We didn’t play with a lot of intensity during the first half,” Nicholson said. “We talked about a few things during the break. We needed to come out and be more aggressive at both ends of the field. We looked like an entirely different team in the second half.”
Trailing 1-0, New Egypt knotted the score at one five minutes into the second half when Brittany Kennedy scored the first of her game-high two goals. Kennedy’s unassisted goal came at a crucial time for the Lady Warriors.
“We definitely needed someone or something to jump start us and I think that goal did it,” Nicholson said. “It appeared that we settled down a bit and played more relaxed after the first goal. We knew it was only a matter of time before we knocked one in.”
Kennedy scored the game winner two minutes later off an assist from teammate Shannon Houston. Houston got the ball off a corner and fed Kennedy, who one-timed the ball past the Keyport goalie.
“We were not expecting to be trailing in this game five minutes into the second half,” Nicholson said. “We pretty much dominated play in the first half, but we couldn’t put the ball in the goal. We didn’t look past Keyport, but we were not as sharp as we had been in previous games.”
Lisa Malloy and Houston added New Egypt’s other goals later in the half.
The Warriors’ offense outshot Keyport by a 27-5 margin.
“We put a lot of shots on goal,” Nicholson said. “We spent a lot of time down in their end of the field. We finished the opportunities in the second half that we missed in the first.
Nicholson, whose team is now 13-2-1 overall, cited the defense as a key to the win. Goalkeeper Kelle Search made just three saves as the Warriors’ defense thwarted any scoring threats in the second half.
“Defense has been a key for us all season,” Nicholson said. “It really makes our offense go. If we can limit the amount of shots on goal, and pin the ball in their end of the field, we are going to be in good shape.”
New Egypt squared off against Gloucester City in the state tournament Tuesday. Nicholson expected a stiff test as the Warriors chase the dream of a state championship.
“From here on in, all the teams are good,” Nicholson said. “There are no easy games. You need to be ready and focused to play from the opening drop to the final buzzer. We feel we have the capability to win a state title. Now we need to go out on the field and prove it.”