By: Sean Moylan
This past Monday afternoon the Nottingham High girls’ varsity field hockey team came after Hightstown’s Jessica Haughton with everything but the kitchen sink.
But after two losses to start the season, Haughton refused to be denied as she tallied three goals and two assists to pace the Rams to a much-needed 6-1 road win over the Northstars.
Usually Haughton can beat a double-team as easily as a grown man can swat a flea, so the Northstars attacked with even more pressure.
"They tripled and quadruple teamed her. But she dodges with kind of her own unique style," said Hightstown’s head coach Julie Reisig, who got a sensational offensive game from all of her players. "She (Haughton) had a great game. But what I needed was for my mids to start scoring. And that’s what they did. They did what I asked."
Joanna Mackow scored the first and third goals of the game, and Jessica Martin, a dynamic senior center-mid, scored a goal and assisted on three others. But Reisig was also impressed with the passing of Mary Simone Astarita and Allison Gilchrist, who each chipped in with an an assist.
Meanwhile Heidi Nicklaus stopped 9 of the 10 shots she faced. Hightstown had 13 shots on goal.
"She was ‘on.’ I’m just thrilled," said Reising of Nicklaus’ stellar performance. "To win 6-1 was a very good feeling. We really needed that win. We were playing without two of my better players."
Kristin "K-Wall" Waller, the rock of the Rams’ defense, and Ellen Trast, one of Rams’ most electric attackers, both were out with injuries. While Trast was expected to play in yesterday’s (Thursday) big road game at Hopewell Valley, Waller will be out of action for at least a while with a bad break in her hand.
Yet Waller is such a team player that she came to a recent practice with huge teddy bears (with blue and white colors of course) for everyone on the team, including Reisig. She also wrote her team a letter expressing her love and support for them.
"These kids really love each other," said Reisig, who loves coaching this current group of kids.
Hightstown (1-2) is scheduled to host Hamilton West on Monday and Princeton on Tuesday. It is scheduled at Allentown next Thursday.

