Bordentown hockey goes 1-1 in playoffs

By: Sean Moylan Sports Writer
    Although Gloucester City hosted and defeated the Bordentown High girls’ varsity field hockey squad, 2-0, in this past Tuesday’s second round NJSIAA Group I Central Jersey matchup, the Scotties have no reason to be upset. By all accounts, they’ve had a great season and made their fans very proud.
    “I was happy with our performance. I thought we played well against a top team,” said Bordentown girls’ varsity field hockey head coach Kim Fithen, whose seventh-seeded Scotties held their own against a two seed in Gloucester City. “2-0 was not indicative of the game. They scored their last goal with 1:30 left and with us playing up to try to score a goal. It was a 0-0 game at the half as we had some opportunities and they had some opportunities.”
    If you love strong midfield play, then Tuesday’s contest between Bordentown and Gloucester City was the game for you.
    “We didn’t have a lot of shots (five). In the first half a lot of the play was in the middle of the field between the 25’s,” said Fithen. “Meaghan Tohill (the Scotties’ star defender) told me at halftime that she hadn’t touched the ball. And I told her ‘that’s a good thing.’ “
    In the second half the game heated up, and that is when Scotties’ goalie Ashley Adams also stepped up and made most of her 10 saves.
    “Ashley Adams kept us in the game. In the second half she made a diving save on the goal line that the other team was expecting to go in,” said Fithen, who was impressed by the way Adams stretched out to make the stop. “She has the ability to play at the next level.”
    Last Friday Bordentown defeated a very good 10th seeded Saint Rose squad, 1-0, at Bordentown.
    “We knew that Saint Rose was going to be a tough team because they’re a Shore Conference team (which is always strong),” said Fithen.
    After a spectacular defensive first half, Scotties attacker Tracy Romberger scored the game-winner off an Ashley Jaekel feed with 17:18 left in the second half.
    “Ashley Jaekel took a long hit (off a corner) and Tracy Romberger deflected it in the goal,” said Fithen.
    It was Romberger’s ninth goal of the season and she missed several games this season because of an illness.
    Adams only had to make two saves to earn the shutout as Scotties’ defenders Melissa Yanucil, Tohill and Kaitlin Moynihan stopped most of Saint Rose’s drives. However it was senior Lindsey Bell who came through with the defensive play of the game.
    “It was total team defense. With literally no time left on the clock, Lindsey Bell came up with a deflection in front of the goal to seal the victory,” said Fithen, whose defense has been her team’s strength the entire season. “Of the 19 games we played this season, we had nine shutouts.”
    When Fithen took over the Scotties’ varsity field hockey program last year she was just trying to rebuild the program and develop players for the future. This year, however, Bordentown was ready to take the next step.
    “This year our goal was to make the state tournament. So to win a state tournament game was just icing on the cake,” said Fithen, who did a fantastic job by leading Bordentown to a 9-7-4 mark this year. “It was a very good season. The quality of play has definitely increased and they’ve jelled as a team. It was a great group of girls on the field and they’re a great group of girls off the field.”