By: Sean Moylan
Part of what makes Gina Smith, the head of the Florence Township Memorial High School field hockey team, such a great coach is her incredible intensity.
So even when the Flashes were struggling to score a few weeks ago, you knew Smith was busy at work, searching for answers and solutions to right the ship.
One of those answers was Joelle Tolifero, a junior back, who came up field to provide offense for the Flashes in lopsided wins over Maple Shade and Palmyra last week.
Tolifero stroked a goal (which was assisted by Kristin Garganio) and assisted on one of freshman Brittany Hiros’ two goals in Florence’s 4-0 win a Maple Shade last Wednesday.
"I moved her (Tolifero) around a little bit," said Smith. "We played pretty well. It took us a while to get going."
Rebecca Wright, with an assist by Emily Million, scored Florence’s first goal. And the ever-reliable Christine Doub assisted on Hiros’ first goal. Katelyn Dmitruck made 14 saves for the winners, who also took 16 shots on goal.
Then on Friday, Florence hosted and crushed Palmyra, 5-0, as Tolifero scored Florence’s second goal of the game on a penalty shot. Katie Phipps played an awesome game and scored Florence’s first and third goals. Doub assisted on one of Phipps’ goals and then scored one of her own, which was assisted by Garganio. "Doubie," as Smith calls her, also delivered a perfect pass to Sam Berry for the Flashes final score of the game, which was played at RD Wood Field. But Doub has been a fine player for years. Dmitruck made 10 saves to post the shutout. Florence had 15 shots on goal.
"It was important to get that game in," said Smith, whose team climbed to .500 (6-6) with the win. "Our goal is to make the states."
There was a point in the season a couple of weeks ago where Florence was taking a lot of shots but not scoring. But Smith told all of her players to look at themselves as potential scorers and it has seemed to make a difference.
"Every day in practice we’re doing attacking drills and working hard," said Smith.
Florence was scheduled to have hosted Riverside yesterday (Wednesday). Florence is scheduled to host Northern Burlington on Monday. It is scheduled at Delran next Wednesday.
NBC
Despite another great effort by the Greyhounds, Moorestown defeated the Northern Burlington County Regional High School field hockey team 4-0 on Tuesday.
"Kristen Holden had 17 saves (Moorestown had 23 shots). She was awesome," said NBC head coach Joanne Hensch, whose was happy with her team’s overall effort. Holden was so good in goal that she won the defensive award for the day. Once again, Danielle Terracciano won the team’s attack award while Marie Worsham and Jess Ridolfino were both were chosen for the hustle award in the game.
But Ridolfino gives an "A" effort every game. Because of that, Hensch chose her as this year’s recipient of the Coach’s Unsung Hero award, which will be given to Ridolfino at an upcoming banquet sponsored by the Field Hockey Club of South Jersey.
Despite the final score the Moorestown game was competitive and well-played on both sides.
"We had three corners and they had three corners." added Hensch.
At 4-4-1, NBC has its work cut out for it if it wants to make the playoffs. NBC is scheduled to host and play Rancocas Valley under the lights on Friday night. Then NBC is scheduled at Florence on Monday.
BRHS
On Tuesday, the Bordentown Regional High School field hockey team tied Maple Shade 1-1. Megan Moynihan scored the Scotties only goal at the 20:06 mark of the second half. Bordentown took seven shots while Maple Shade posted three shots. Bordentown goalie Michelle Van Mater had a save in the contest. The Scotties record is now 0-7-4. Bordentown was scheduled to have played at Holy Cross yesterday (Wednesday). It is scheduled at Burlington City on Friday and at Princeton Day School on Monday.

