by josh Lashley
Sometimes during the course of a season, coaches and athletes will be so focused upon the next game or the next practice, sometimes they do not fully comprehend just how well they are performing.
It’s not until they gather together at some point in the post-season that a program can truly reminisce and appreciation all that they have accomplished.
The 2014 season is now in the books for the Bordentown High School field hockey program, and now the coaches and student-athletes on the roster can rejoice knowing they played with solid consistency.
”We opened the season with a 3-2 overtime win over New Egypt. It was the first time that we beat them on their field,” Bordentown head coach Julie Reisig said. “Then we dominated some teams we usually struggle with — Holy Cross (5-2 home win), Maple Shade (6-2 home win), New Egypt (5-3 home win), Rancocas Valley (5-0 home win), West Windsor Plainsboro North (7-1 home win). Then on Senior Night, we were losing 3-2 with five minutes to play (and won 5-4 in overtime).”
She added, “We had Shore 0-0 at the half before falling to them 4-1. We lost to Lawrenceville, 3-2, and they won the Prep state title, their conference title and the Mercer County Tournament.”
The Scotties finished with an overall record of 13-8, and they were 7-3 in the Burlington County League Patriot Division. They reached the NJSIAA North II Group I Sectional Tournament semifinal round before losing to eventual Sectional and State Group I champion Shore Regional.
”Sam Ryan was a defensive leader for us this year, especially on defensive corners,” she said. “She played post for us during corners, and we denied 154 out of 160 corner attempts this season. She and Maddie Gerike also stepped up to organize our Race for the Cure fundraising this year.
”My captains Lauren Sontupe and Cait Nitschmann were excellent role models, working hard in practices and leading warm-ups and always working their hardest on the field. I also thought junior Morgan Irons, a three-year varsity player, began to emerge as a leader on the field with her skill, creative abilities and wealth of experience.”
Many student-athletes on the roster improve noticeably as the season moved forward, including Irons and Sontupe.
”They (Irons and Sontupe along with Georgia DeMas) all legitimately want to be the strongest possible player they can and increased their efforts and results every game,’” she said. “Finally, I did not think it was possible for Cait to keep getting better, but she did. She’s ready to go right into collegiate Big 10 play (at Rutgers).”
The Bordentown field hockey program appears on solid footing and the future looks bright even though the graduating Class of 2015 will be greatly missed.
”I am proud that Cait will be playing at Rutgers in the Big 10 with Jess Carey, who’s red-shirting,” she said. “Several others are looking to play Division III — Jess Gray as goal keeper at Juniata and Sontupe and Casey McCormick at New Jersey Division III schools to be confirmed. All of the seniors helped transform Bordentown field hockey into one of the most respected and best turf teams in Group I.
”Next year, we will have 10 girls that will have had Futures training with Morgan moving up to Level I, which is the best players in the state, several who do club, and girls who are anxious to get their chance after patiently waiting their turns behind 12 experienced seniors. It’s exciting to have new players looking to prove themselves.”
