Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School’s Madison Maguire (21) duels with Robbinsville High School’s Jessica Allen during the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II championship game played at Rumson-Fair Haven on Nov. 8. The Bulldogs captured their third straight state sectional title with a dominating 8-0 victory. FRANK GALIPO RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
R umson-Fair Haven Regional High School entered the season knowing it could fight for a state sectional title. The Bulldogs had won two in a row, but a Shore Conference Tournament championship has eluded Rumson-Fair Haven since the program’s inception.
This season, the Bulldogs have both titles to their name. They defeated Robbinsville High School in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II finals on Nov. 8. Rumson-Fair Haven’s third consecutive sectional win followed a historic victory over Shore Regional High School in the Shore Conference Tournament.
“The girls have worked so hard all season. It was such a thrilling experience to see all that hard work pay off,” Rumson-Fair Haven head coach Julie Vaccarelli said.
The Bulldogs secured the sectional title in decisive fashion. Senior Abigael Donohue and junior Madison Maguire each contributed three goals, and senior Catie Ebner anchored the defense as Rumson-Fair Haven shut out Robbinsville, 8-0.
Makenna Maguire and Maggie Jennings added one goal apiece. Ebner, who committed to attend Villanova University, continued to be a leading force on the other side of the field. Robbinsville didn’t get a single shot on goal.
“Catie is doing a great job leading the defense, which has stepped up huge for us,” Vaccarelli said.
The defense also had a starring role in the Shore Conference Tournament finals.
Top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven held Shore Regional scoreless in a 2-0 win, handing the Blue Devils their first shutout of the season. Rumson-Fair Haven goalie Anna Babiak recorded three key saves following a penalty corner around the 48-minute mark. No. 2 Shore Regional had more than a dozen penalty corners in the game.
Senior Peyton McCauley accounted for Rumson-Fair Haven’s two goals, both of which came in the first half.
Rumson-Fair Haven’s victory snapped a streak of 15 Shore Conference Tournament titles for Shore Regional. In the 2012 championship, Shore Regional edged Rumson-Fair Haven in a 2-1 contest.
The Bulldogs (21-0-2) aren’t done yet. A group championship would be another first for the program, and Rumson-Fair Haven was slated to face West Deptford High School in the NJSIAA Group II semifinals on Nov. 12.
West Deptford advanced by winning the South Jersey Group II sectional. Madison High School will match up against Summit High School in the other Group II semifinal.
Vaccarelli is confident in her team’s chances to get through the group stage this year, saying the Bulldogs continue to find ways to improve their play.
“We definitely need to rally off the victories we’ve had, but we also stress to the girls that we need to take it one game at a time,” said Vaccarelli, who’s in her fifth year as Rumson-Fair Haven’s head coach.
SHORE REGIONAL
For Shore Regional, the state tournament presented a chance to bounce back from the conference loss.
The second-seed Blue Devils beat No. 1-seed Bernards High School, 3-2, to successfully defend their North Jersey Group I crown. Junior Annie Deusch scored the first goal for Shore Regional, and fellow junior Jessica Welch converted a penalty shot to give the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Welch extended the lead to 3-0 with her second goal. Bernards rallied with two goals, but Shore Regional held on for the final four minutes of play. Sarah Dwyer finished the game with 10 saves for the Blue Devils.
Shore Regional advanced to play Newton High School in the Group I semifinals on Nov. 12. The other semifinals matchup featured Collingswood High School and Woodstown High School.