South field hockey falls in states

North also eliminated from tourney

By: Bob Nuse
   It was like old times for Amy Bruschi on Wednesday.
   As a player, the state tournament field hockey season generally meant a date with Hunterdon Central. All four years Bruschi played at West Windsor-Plainsboro High, the Pirates met up with the Red Devils in the state tournament.
   And all four of those years, a loss to Hunterdon Central ended the Pirates’ season. In fact, from 1993 through 1998, the Pirates lost to the Red Devils six straight times in the state tournament. Not until 1999, when the Pirates topped HC in the sectional semifinals, did WW-P post a win.
   "Every year it was West Windsor-Plainsboro against Hunterdon Central," said Bruschi, who us now the Pirates’ head coach and saw her team be eliminated from the state tournament with a 2-1 loss to the Red Devils on Wednesday. "Unfortunately, more often than not they were the end of my season then. My sister’s (Kristen) junior year they did beat them and that was a huge accomplishment."
   West Windsor-Plainsboro North was also eliminated from the state tournament with a 1-0 loss to Voorhees on Wednesday on a goal in the last four minutes. Melanie Zapantis stopped two shots in the loss for the Knights, who saw their best season in program history end with a 15-2-1 record.
   While Bruschi was disappointed to see her team’s season end with the loss on Wednesday, she was quite pleased to see the program take another step forward in her third season as coach. In her first season, the Pirates finished 3-11-3. Last year, they improved to 7-10. This year, WW-P South not only qualified for the North Jersey, Section 2 Group III tournament, but earned a No. 2 seed and won the Colonial Valley Conference Colonial Division title along the way.
   "I think we’ve turned a corner this year," said Bruschi, whose team finished the season with a 10-5-1 record. "Now the girls know what it is like. Before, they had won a couple of big games. But this year they know what it is like to win their conference and get a banner for the gym. They know what it is like to go to states.
   "They can hear me say over and over it’s so great when you win a championship. But for them to do it is good. We have so many players returning next year that hopefully they can carry over that success as well."
   After a scoreless first half, the Pirates fell behind after a Hunterdon Central goal just minutes into the second half. The Red Devils extended that lead to 2-0 with eight minutes left, but the Pirates answered right back on a goal by Dana Bongiovanni to cut the lead to 2-1.
   "The girls played really well today," Bruschi said. "The defense stood up against so many shots. I think that says a lot about what kind of team we were. Unfortunately we weren’t able to get anything going on the offensive side. But any time you come up with a one goal decision against Hunterdon Central it says a lot about the quality of your program."
   The Pirates were outshot, 14-1 in the game and also were at a 12-0 disadvantage in corners. But they played well to the end against a team that has a history of state tournament success.
   The loss meant the end of the line for 12 seniors, all of whom have helped the program take another step forward.
   "They are a great group," Bruschi said. "The ones who played varsity as sophomores, Ally Trevorrow and Lauren Petro and Liz Panelli, they were and are leaders in this program and that takes a lot. When the leadership believes, the rest of the group believes.
   "Even though it’s sad we lost, at least the seniors lost on their home field and they didn’t have to end their season somewhere else. In a way that’s special to get their final game on their home field."
   And along the way, the Pirates managed to achieve some of the goals they set for themselves.
   "Our goals were to get back to states and to win our conference and we did that," Bruschi said. "Also, to get a bye for first round of states was a big accomplishment here at South."