By Jimmy Allinder
Monroe
Monroe Township High School — two-time defending Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament field hockey champion — was a match away from achieving one important goal set by head coach Sarah Cummings: reaching the finals.
The third-seeded Falcons (8-6-1) had the chance to accomplish that when they visited second-seeded Old Bridge High School Oct. 18 in the semifinals. The teams split regular-season matches, with Monroe winning 3-1, but dropped a 3-0 decision in the second go-around.
If the Falcons got by Old Bridge, their likely opponent in the finals Oct. 20 at East Brunswick High School could be South Plainfield High School (16-0). It would be the third consecutive year the Falcons and Tigers would meet for the title.
This season, the Falcons have lost to twice to the Tigers by 6-0 and 3-1 scores, respectively. Although favored, South Plainfield’s semifinals opponent Oct. 18 was fourth-seeded Metuchen High School (6-5-4), which has also dropped a pair of matches to the Tigers.
“Getting to the finals is something we hope to do again,” Cummings said. “The other goal is getting as far as we can in the state tournament and playing teams we haven’t met yet.”
As evidenced by their record, the Falcons are in a rebuilding mode with one of the strongest classes in school history graduated. In the last two years, Monroe finished 17-3-1 and 19-1-1 (a school record for victories in a season).
One of the strengths of the team has been in goal, where senior Zoe Rosen returns for her third season in the net as starter. The two other outstanding players, Angela Oskierko and Abigale Viola, are juniors and will form the nucleus of next year’s team.
“We’re fortunate that everyone on the team has some experience playing varsity, junior varsity and freshman field hockey,” Cummings said. “For the most part, the girls have remained in the positions where they have the most experience, but we’ve moved around a few players based on their strengths.”
East Brunswick
It is a testament to the positive attitude of Cindi Todoroff — coach of the East Brunswick field hockey team for the last 33 years (35 years overall) — that she promotes the program with the same enthusiasm as when she first became associated with the sport.
At one time, the Bears were kingpins of field hockey in Middlesex County as one of the first area high schools to introduce the sport (1981). However, field hockey has had to compete with more girls sports in the fall for prospective players and other GMC schools have added the sport.
The record is 4-8-3 and the fifth-seeded Bears were eliminated by Metuchen, 2-0, in the GMC Tournament. The remainder of the schedule includes matches yet to be scheduled against teams outside the conference in preparation for the state tournament.
“Since we don’t have a middle school program, the players get their first experience playing field hockey in our fifth through eighth grade Recreation Instructional Program, Fall Team Clinic or when they become freshmen,” Todoroff said. “We’re hoping to reduce the advantage teams we play enjoy by offering an eighth-grade program that middle schoolers and freshmen can join.”
The fall clinic has been a staple for years and is an example of Todoroff going above and beyond to promote field hockey. The first session will be held Oct. 22 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the high school lower turf field. Additional sessions will be scheduled for Oct. 29 and Nov. 5 and 11 at the same location. Todoroff said prospective players in grade 6-8 who are interested in attending the clinic can send a message to [email protected].
The East Brunswick roster this season includes seniors Cassidy Duhigg (captain), Amuy Fahkri, Jordyn Kamis (captain), Katerina Lin, Jayati Penumarti and Kendal Taylor (captain); juniors Casey Caroselli, Mariah DiPierno, Krystin Goodman, Gabriella Kurczeski, Callie Luftig, Kayla Reardon, Caitlyn Robertson, Kayla Silva and Madison Stout; and sophomores Christine Lee and Deidre Otoo.
The team’s managers are Taner McNamera and Celine Iskarous.