South hockey coach says team state contenders

By: John E. Powers
   The South Hunterdon High School field hockey team went 11-7 last year, losing in the first round of the top-seeded Oak Knoll in a North Jersey, Section 2, Group I, first-round playoff game.
   South Hunterdon will have to go on this year without the graduated Devon Shire, Cherish Brown, Tory Marley and goalie Lauren Mitchell.
   But the team goes on, and head coach Andi Burroughs is expecting the Eagles to compete for another state playoff berth.
   "Every year is really a rebuilding season," Burroughs said. "But from what I see, we won’t have much of a problem."
   South Hunterdon will have a solid group of seniors — the front line of seniors Christina Aiello, Nicole Case and Lara Coleman and senior defenders Rachel Parsons and Kaitlyn Aversa.
   Juniors front liner Steff Davis, sophomore middie Kayla Ribsam, defender Angie Platas and sophomore goalie Leslie Salsburry, who filled in late last season when Mitchell was hurt, return with varsity experience. Salsburry had a win against North Plainfield.
   "We try not to focus on one player because we had to take away from the others," said Burroughs, who will be assisted by Colleen Perry. "We have to put everybody on the same level, all the same skill wise on the same level, even the freshman. We have a lot of talent, but some of the players are young and have a lot to learn."
   The team will have four freshmen playing regularly. Middie Sara Phillips, Jen Wengryn, Amanda Nielson and Emily Marley, Tory’s sister will be counted on to pitch in. Junior defender Brittany Ennis has returned after missing last year with a shoulder injury.
   Junior middie Brittany Shurts and sophomore wing Amanda Tillett are two other players.
   South Hunterdon has been hurt like the football team because of the ongoing construction at the high school that will delay the opening of school until Sept. 11. The Eagles have been practicing at the West Amwell Township municipal building, not far from the high school.
   "We’ve made do with what we have," Burroughs said. ‘We have been doing doubles (session practices). We are working on conditioning and field play and positioning. We’re really working on getting our chemistry on the field."
   Burroughs said fewer players came out for the team this year, and the Eagles won’t field a junior varsity team.
   "We had 20 to start with, and now we have 16," she said. "Some kids had other priorities, but the people we have worked hard during the summer and came back in great shape, pumped to get going."
   The Eagles were scheduled to scrimmage at Hunterdon Central Wednesday. The season gets under way with a game at Belvidere Sept. 11.
   South Hunterdon is scheduled to play its first home game Sept. 14 against Delaware Valley, but that could change because of the school construction.