The Holmdel High School field hockey team will meet Wayne Hills this afternoon in the semifinals of the NJSIAA Group III Tournament, on the heels of its impressive run through the North Jersey Section 2 Group III playoffs.
After being ousted from the Shore Conference Tournament by Rumson-Fair Haven — Holmdel’s only loss — the Hornets rebounded in the state playoffs. Prior to opening the tourney against Freehold Township, coach Karen Baldwin’s team chalked up a pair of nonconference triumphs over St. Rose and St. John Vianney to get back on track.
Baldwin’s team opened the state tourney with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Freehold Township. The Hornets (15-1-3) scored the game’s lone goal when Melissa Martorelli converted Kristen Davilla’s pass on a penalty corner just shy of the 30-minute mark. The two teams battled for the rest of the contest as Holmdel prevailed.
That set up a meeting with Voorhees (19-2- 1) in the sectional finale. Holmdel’s defense managed to bend enough to keep Voorhees at bay, as the Hornets defense led by goalie Alex Diekman got the job done.
“Diekman was unbelievable for us in goal,” Baldwin said. “We were outshot handily and she was up and down making the saves.”
Davilla scored at the 33-minute mark to put her team in front and she added an insurance tally on a penalty stroke 47 minutes into the match.
“Our defense was outstanding in both games, but especially in the Voorhees game,” Baldwin said.
Davilla, a midfielder, and Martorelli, a fullback,
showed that the Hornets defense can play well at both ends of the field.
“Everyone stepped up, and our defense was excellent,” the coach said. “Going through two state playoff games without allowing a goal is something the girls can be proud of.”
Meanwhile, Baldwin said her team’s loss to Rumson-Fair Haven in the Shore Conference tourney had a silver lining.
“That was the best thing that could have happened to us,” Baldwin said. “That showed us what areas we needed to focus on, and we addressed those things. It also helped our team focus. The girls didn’t want to lose again and they didn’t”
Against Wayne Hills, Baldwin said the game would likely come down to possession, as it does in most field hockey games.
“We want to control the ball keep our composure and stick to our game plan,” she said. “If we can do that, we’ll be all right.”
— Warren Rappleyea